Finland Names Third Team Member and Reserve for 2024 Olympic Games

As very last country on the list to announce its full team heading to the 2024 Olympic Games, the Finnish equestrian federation confirmed the third rider and reserve in the evening of 8 July 2024.

All teams and individual riders had to be entered by 8 July which was the "Definite Entry" date. 

Finland had not yet done so until the evening after a tumultuous team selection in which the federation had granted a spot on the team to Stella Hagelstam and Kiss Me. The FEI, however, halted that nomination as Kiss Me was not registered with the FEI before the Olympic ownership deadline of 15 January. 

Finland had to go back to the drawing board and make a selection between Joanna Robinson (Glamouraline) and Elisabet Ehrnrooth (Daytano) as team members Ruoste and Kanerva were already confirmed.

Last night, the Finnish federation announced as expected that Robinson would be the third team rider and Ehrnrooth reserve. It will be the first Olympics for Robinson, while Ehrnrooth competed at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney with Harald.

"The Olympic place came as a positive surprise, because in a certain way I feel that I am still at the beginning of the path of a competitive rider," said 35-year old Joanna Robinson who is based in Riel (NED) with her husband Gavin Robinson. She trains with Dutch GP rider Remy Bastings. "I want to go far as a rider. The fact that such an opportunity came up now has been a bit unexpected for me. Of course, humbled by the honour, I am happy to go to represent Finland. I didn't think last year or even this spring that we would be at this point now at the turn of June-July."

"I'm very happy with the selection, and I'm already looking forward to the Olympics," said Elisabet Ehrnrooth who trains in Denmark with Daniel Bachmann Andersen for the past two years, as well as in Finland with Janne Bergh. "This is the horse's first year at GP level. We've been traveling and competing quite a bit this spring. The start of the GP season was very good. Then there have been a few drops in level, which is typical for young horses performing at a new level. They can start to anticipate movements on the track."

The 57-year old Ehrnrooth (nee Dengg) is originally Swedish but got dual citizenship in 1997 after marrying Finn Georg Ehrnrooth. Elisabet added, "It's been a long way from the Sydney Olympics to today. I enjoy the sport more now that I have a wider perspective on things. I can appreciate things because I know what can happen. The charm of riding is that it's never too late to pursue your dreams."

Photos © Astrid Appels

Related Links
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2024 Olympic Games
Finnish Olympic Team Selection for 2024 Paris Troubled By Issues with FEI Ownership Deadline