Victoria Max-Theurer Withdraws from 2021 Olympic Games, Team Austria Out

Just hours before the start of the Grand Prix at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Austrian team rider Victoria Max-Theurer announced her withdrawal from participation.

This means Team Austrian drops out of the team qualification race.

Dental Issue

Her horse, the 11-year old Westfalian gelding Abegglen (by Ampere x Carabas) which Max-Theurer acquired ready made Grand Prix in January 2020, developed a dental problem and required treatment. 

"I'm very sad because our Olympic dream is over," Max-Theurer explained. "With a heavy heart I have to pull out from competing in the Grand Prix in Tokyo. In the final training session Abby was not his usual self, the way I know him, and we didn't know why. We had him checked by the team vet and with the equine clinic here at the show grounds and late last night he was diagnosed with an acute abscess at the root of a molar."

"The welfare of the horses precedes all else. That is written in stone and I won't change it," she continued. "This also means that today we cannot enter the Olympic arena to show for our team and Austria what we can do, what we have worked and focused on the past five very moving years. It hurts but the health of my horses is most important."

Team Austria Out

Austria did not send a travelling reserve to Tokyo, even though two alternates were named on the closing date for the definite entries. The first reserve, Astrid Neumayer (Zap Zap) declined to go. The second reserve was Belinda Weinbauer (Fustanella).

This means that Austria is automatically out of the running to qualify the team competition (Grand Prix Special on Tuesday 27 July). 

Austria will continue with two individual riders:  Florian Bacher (Fidertraum) and Christian Schumach (Te Quiero SF).

Photo © Astrid Appels

Related Links
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2021 Olympic Games
Austrian Team Selected for 2021 Olympic Games
Abegglen Sold to Victoria Max-Theurer