It was a historic evening for French showjumping at the Brussels Stephex Masters, as the nation’s young stars clinched a dramatic win in the CSIO5* 1m60 Nations Cup. After two rounds of thrilling competition, the French team celebrated not just victory, but also a generational shift within the sport.
Nina Mallevaey, who delivered a flawless double clear with Dynastie de Beaufour, admitted she is savoring every moment of her meteoric rise. “I’m enjoying this period a lot,” she said with a smile. “I think I have amazing horses, and right now everything feels incredible. When Antoine was clear in the second round, we knew we had won. It was just an amazing feeling.”
For 24-year-old Jeanne Sadran, who partnered Dexter de Kergelen, the night was also a milestone. “During the Europeans I already felt more confident, and now I’m so happy to win here. It's my first Senior Nations Cup victory.” she explained. “Last year was my first Nations Cup, and now my first win. This arena feels like something lucky for me.”
Asked about the shifting balance between the younger generation and established French legends such as Kevin Staut and Pénélope Leprevost, Sadran didn’t shy away: “I have the feeling the older riders are still happy for us young ones. I really appreciate this experience with all of them. And Simon Delestre was here this afternoon to help Antoine and me. But of course,” she added with a laugh, “we continue to fight to push the old ones out of the game.”
Chef d’équipe Edouard Couperie praised the depth of talent now breaking through. “It’s amazing in our sport that such young people can be so strong and push the old ones out,” he reflected. “If you look at Belgium, they have the same with riders like Thibeau Spits and Gilles Thomas. For me, it was not difficult to make a team here with three under-25 superstars. They are really, really good. Honestly, it’s not a surprise.”
The organisator, Stephan Conter, reserved particular admiration for Mallevaey’s rise. “This mademoiselle here, that’s unbelievable. What a rider. She has been performing incredibly for the last two years. It puts pressure on the older riders, but that’s a good thing. It shows how competitive the sport has become.”
With their youthful energy, unshakable composure, and a taste for victory, France’s next generation didn’t just win in Brussels, they announced themselves as a force that is here to stay.
