Dina Ellermann Gets Late Invitation to go to 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo

Dressage

Estonia

Estonian Grand Prix rider Dina Ellermann has received a late invitation to compete at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo as an individual rider.

Belarus and Slovakia Decline

Estonia received one individual slot for Group C (Central & Eastern Europe; Central Asia). The two (2)* best ranked Athletes, maximum one (1) per NOC, in the FEI Olympic Ranking – Dressage.

Ukraine got the first individual slot (Inna Logutenkova) and normally Belarus would get the second spot, but they declined. The first reserve country was Slovakia, but they declined too, so Estonia followed and they accepted

Ellermann

The 40-year old Dina Ellermann has accepted to go to Tokyo with her 13-year old Estonian warmblood Donna Anna (by Don Schufro x Weltmeister).

The combination achieved its two MER scores in 2020 with a 67.913% at the 2020 CDI Ruila, followed by 66.304% and 66.435% at the 2021 CDI-W Kunkiai as well as 68.478% at the 2021 CDI Parnu.

Ellermann has previously represented Estonia with Donna Anna at the 2019 European Championships in Rotterdam and 2013 World Young Horse Championships in Verden. With Landy's Akvarel she competed at the 2017 Europeans in Gothenburg, the 2015 Euros in Aachen, and the 2014 World equestrian Games.

Better Than Going to the Moon

For Ellermann this will be her first Olympics.

"For us it is a dream come true," Ellermann told Eurodressage. "Donna Anna is our Estonian Sport Horse, bred and born in Estonia. I have had her since she was a foal – and she has grown up to prepare a great birthday present for the Estonian Sport Horse Breeders’ Society’s 20th (anniversary)! "

Dina is particularly proud that she is taking an Estonian warmblood to Tokyo.

"One of our prominent jumping riders has a famous quote from a few years ago," Ellermann explained. "He said that it will be more likely for an Estonian to go to the Moon than for an Estonian equestrian to go to the Olympics. This will be the most perfect way to prove him wrong!"