Sweden’s Patrik Kittel “Broken to Core” Pulling Out of Olympics When Mare Injured in Training at Tokyo

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Note Patrik Kittel posted on his Facebook page

July 22, 2021

Patrik Kittel, Sweden’s leading rider, pulled out of the Olympics Thursday after Well Done de la Roche CMF was injured during training at Tokyo.

Patrik said in a note he penned about the 13-year-old Swiss Warmblood mare ranked No. 14 in the world: “To my sadness Well Done tripped in yesterday’s training, a small injury prevents us to compete in Tokyo 2020 Olympics. As I am broken to the core. Welly will always come first. I will now support my students and team friends in the honor to represent Sweden.”

These Olympics were to be the fourth for Patrik, 45, having competed for Sweden in 2008, 2012 and 2016. He is based in Germany with his wife, Australian Olympian Lyndal Oatley.

Antonia Ramel, 35, and Brother de Jeu, 15-year-old KWPN gelding, were the reserve and will now join her sister, Juliette Ramel, 34, and Buriel, 15-year-old KWPN gelding, and Therese Nilshagen, 38, and Dante Weltino, 14-year-old Oldenburg stallion, on the team.

Patrik Kittel and Well Done de la Roche leading Sweden to 2019 European Championship bronze. File photo. © Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

Patrik and Well Done led Sweden to team bronze at the 2019 European Championships. The pair also competed at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon.

South Africa’s Tanya Seymour, 37, also withdrew Ramoneur after arriving in Tokyo. Ramoneur at 19 years of age, was the oldest of the 60 horses entered in the dressage.

The horse inspection is scheduled for Friday and the Grand Prix will kick off competition Saturday and Sunday.