Longines Global Champions Tour, is excited to unveil the eighth and final episode of season one of Rising Above series presented by Longines, titled "Overcoming Fears." This inspiring installment focuses on the remarkable journey of Belgian show jumper Niels Bruynseels, who faced his fears head-on to pursue his dream.
"Embrace fear like a wild horse. Tame it, and it shall carry you to conquer all obstacles," Niels starts the episode, opening up about his initial fear of horses and how he transformed that fear into a driving force. Growing up feeling small next to the towering animals, Niels admits, “I dreamed to be a show jumper, but I was afraid for it. They are so huge, they are big. I feel really small next to the horse."
Through perseverance, training, and a key decision at 15, he made his competitive debut and never looked back. Niels explains his story that so many will be able to relate to: “I found some really good friends that were also show jumping. We trained together, and soon I started to like it. And it was my final shot to decide, either hop on the saddle and start competing, or quit and give up riding forever."
"The moment that I made the step when I was 15, I did my first competition. And then actually it started everything. It was just a dream. I had a lot of training sessions with tears and sweat, but I always wanted to reach my goal. Just when I have a really small feeling that I could reach it, I took the risk.”
The episode showcases Bruynseels' courageous leap into the world of show jumping, overcoming doubts and turning a childhood dream into a professional reality. “If you are afraid and you have a goal, you want to achieve something, just trust yourself," he says, offering a message of empowerment for all viewers. "You are stronger than you think. You have to believe really in yourself and go for it."