7 Olympic Medalists from the 2016 Rio Games Set to Compete at Major International Equestrian Competition

 

September 29-October 2, the world’s best riders will converge in California to compete for the new Super Grand Slam Bonus of 2.25 million Euros at the Longines Masters of Los Angeles. The event is the first FEI recognized CSI 5* show jumping competition on the West Coast and one of the first major international equestrian competitions following the Olympics. The American leg of the Longines Masters Series will feature seven 2016 Olympic medalists, including gold, silver and bronze team and individual medalists who will meet again in the ring after this summer’s games in Rio.  

Looking to continue their success from the Rio games, 2016 Team USA silver medalists Lucy Davis and Kent Farrington will return to the Longines Masters of Los Angeles. They will compete against familiar faces from the games, including Team France gold medalists Kevin Staut and Roger-Yves Bost as well as Team Germany bronze medalists Christian Ahlmann and Daniel Deusser, and who shared the podium with them last month.

World Number 3 Simon Delestre from France will make his first appearance at the Longines Masters of Los Angeles after multiple years of competing in the Paris and Hong Kong legs of the international competition. Additional Rio Olympians confirmed to compete include Eric Lamaze from Canada who won individual bronze medalist, Harrie Smolders from the Netherlands, 2012 London Olympics individual gold medalist Steve Guerdat, and more.

Last year’s winner of the Grand Slam Super Bonus in Hong Kong and of the Longines Grand Prix in Los Angeles, German rider Marco Kutsher, will be back this year to compete, while the young, up-and-coming Irish star, Bertram Allen will also return to defend his 2015 Longines Speed Challenge title. Allen won the Longines Speed Challenge in Los Angeles and Hong Kong last season.

2012 winner of the FEI World Cup final Richard Fellers is also confirmed to compete, along with many additional notable 5* riders from the United States, including Georgina Bloomberg, Jessica Springsteen, Richard Spooner and more.

Along with 5* Masters competitions such as the Longines Grand Prix, Longines Speed Challenge, Emirates Gold Cup, the Prestige and National Trophy classes and Pro-AM for Charity will provide a unique opportunity for amateur riders to compete alongside masters of the sport. Actress Kaley Cuoco and French director/actor and rider Guillaume Canet, and many more will take the ring and show off their skills throughout the four action-packed days.

Longines Ambassador of Elegance, World Cup gold medal alpine race skier Mikaela Shiffrin will attend the Longines Masters of Los Angeles on Friday, September 30 for the Longines Speed Challenge. The hospitality, lifestyle, entertainment and glamour of Los Angeles coupled with the level of sporting competition of show jumping have made this the must-attend event of the year.

 

Masters (CSI 5*)
Kent Farrington (USA)
Simon Delestre (FR)
Eric Lamaze (CAN)
Daniel Deusser (GER)
Kevin Staut (FR)
Scott Brash (GB)
Roger-Yves Bost (FRA)
Steve Guerdat (SUI)
Harrie Smolders (NED)
Patrice Delaveau (FRA)
Denis Lynch (IRL)
Emanuele Gaudiano (Italy)
Conor Swail (IRL)
John Whitaker (UK)
Marco Kutsher (GER)
Sam Parot (CHI)
Jack Towell (USA)
Cian O'Connor (IRL)
Todd Minikus (USA)
Julien Epaillard (FRA)
Richard Spooner (Florida, USA)
Jos Verlooy (BEL)
Margie Engle (USA)
Lucy Davis (Los Angeles, USA)
Eduardo Menezes (BRA)
Georgina Bloomberg (USA)
Jane Richards Philips (SUI)
Jessica Springsteen (USA)
Richard Fellers (USA)
Karl Cook (California, USA)
Chris Surbey (CAN)
Enrique Gonzales (MEX)
Alberto Michan (Mexico)
Philip Houston (GER)