Grégory Cottard has announced that his horse Bibici is no longer in the running for a spot in the Paris Olympic Games. The grey mare sustained an injury at the end of April during a competition in Fontainebleau and has not competed since. Recent examinations have led to the decision to give Bibici a longer rest period.
The thirteen-year-old Bibici (Norman Pre Noir) returned to the sport in February after a previous injury during the CSIO in Dublin. In March, the pair won the Grand Prix 1.50m at the CSI 3* in Valence. Last season, Cottard and Bibici represented France in the final of the Longines World Cup in Leipzig, the World Championships in Herning, and the final of the Nations Cup.
With the withdrawal of this strong duo, the French list of potential Olympic show jumping riders for Paris now includes only twelve combinations.
F. ©: Tomas Holcbecher