German dressage team trainer Holger Schmezer joined his national trainer colleagues Otto Becker (show jumping) and Hans Melzer (eventing) for a press conference at the German Equestrian Federation (FN-DOKR) headquarters in Warendorf, Germany, last weekend. The trio gave an update on the German Olympic preparation plan.
Schmezer spoke out about the frequently altering team format, which for Hong Kong 2008 meant that a team was reduced from four riders to three and for London 2012 the team of three can now get support from one individual rider but only for the individual leg of event. Unfortunately only three nations -- the strongest in the world: Germany, Great Britain and Holland -- are benefitting from this new system creating an even more unfair field of play. Also the nations' cup is decided by the results not only of the Grand Prix but also of the Special. For this new format the Special test had to be altered to fit the time schedule.
"The reduction of the number of team riders is totally incomprehensible," Schmezer said at the press conference. "The most beautiful test (Special) has been scratched from the program," said Holger with regret.
Schmezer believes Germany has clear medal potential. "Four medals are possible, why not, though it's definitely uthopian," he stated. "We have to rely on ourselves, independent of what the competition does, but we definitely have a chance."
The Olympic dressage riders have to ride three tests, spread out over eight days (2 - 9 August 2012). In Germany 25-year old Kristina Sprehe is certainly hyped as the new shooting start after having been submitted to the German A-team. "London would be a big dream of course," Sprehe commented.
Besides training sessions behind closed doors, Schmezer has set out the German Dressage Championships in Balve and CDIO Aachen as Olympic selection trials. The entire German Olympic A-team, which exception of Ulla Salzgeber, will kick-off their outdoor show campaign at the 2012 CDI Hagen at the end of April.
Photos © Barbara Schnell - Astrid Appels
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