The French Olympic Committee and French equestrian federation have announced the team that will represent France on home turf at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
For the nomination FFE President Serge Lecomte brought together on 1 July an Olympic and Paralympic Selection Council. This council met before the Olympic and Paralympic selection advisory committees with knowledge of the latest competition results and information. The council heard the national selectors that explained their selection process and their recommendations for the combinations they want to represent France at the 2024 Olympic Games.
The council includes Serge Lecomte (FFE President), Frédéric Morand (FFE Vice-president), Christian Paillot (former FFE Vice-President), Richard Corde (Veterinarian), Sophie Dubourg (Technical Director and Head of Mission for the 2024 Olympic Games), and Frédéric Bouix (General FFE Delegate). For para dressage the experts consulted were Jean-Claude Leterrier, Patricia Noyer and team captain Fanny Delaval.
The French para dressage team includes:
- Chiara Zenati (Grade III), 21 years old from Saumur on Swing Royal,
an 18-YO Hanoverian gelding owned by the French Institute of Horses and Riding. Breeder: Tegtmeyer - School Rider: Sebastien Goyheneix - Groom: Geoffray Podsiedlik - Alexia Pittier (Grade IV), 31 years old from Drumettaz Clarafond on Sultan 768,
a 9-YO Hanoverian gelding owned by Sylvie Pittier, Arthur Boutron and his rider. Breeder: Albert Kampert Groom: Jordan Brenier - Vladimir Vinchon (Grade IV), 50 years old from Ahuillé on Pégase Mayenne,
an 11-YO Oldenburg gelding owned by Maud Vinchon and her rider - Breeder: Sandra Ostendorf - Groom: Marie Thollon - Lisa Cez (Grade V), 28 years old from Levallois-Peret on Stallone de Hus,
a 14-YO Hanoverian gelding owned by Jérôme Cez, Marylène Cez and her rider - Breeder: Haras du Hus - Groom: Mailys Frougneux
Fanny Delaval, discipline director, stated, "we have chosen to select four combinations which were very convincing at the start of the 2024 season. This team has a lot of qualities and excellent cohesion. The riders all know each other and work really well together. Our choice is made with an eye towards individual performances. We know that we have little chance of getting on a podium as a team, however, we have pairs who can challenge the best individually, mainly in Grade III and IV. We have two experienced couples with Chiara/Swing and Vladimir/Pégase who have already participated in the Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, and two younger couples Alexia/Sultan and Lisa/Stallone who are on the rise who have worked hard and are very consistent. Beyond technique, work on mental preparation is essential to succeed in performing in Paris. This selection is a collegial decision of the entire sports management team. We presented it to the selection council on July 1st, who were on the same wavelength."
Related Links
French Olympic Dressage Team for Paris 2024 Announced
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2024 Olympic Games