The German show jumping federation has announced that Otto Becker will continue his role as national coach until the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The 65-year-old coach has led the national team since 2009.
Becker, himself a former Olympic champion with team gold in Sydney 2000, hung up his riding boots to focus fully on coaching the new generation. Under his leadership, the German team achieved several successes, including bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics, and individual world and European titles for riders such as Simone Blum and André Thieme.
Christian Kukuk's recent gold medal at the Olympics and victory in the League of Nations in Barcelona show that under his leadership, the German show jumping team remains among the world's best.
Assistant national team coach, Marcus Döring
In addition to the extension of Becker's contract, Marcus Döring will stay on as assistant national team coach. From now on, Döring will focus entirely on the sport of show jumping as U25 team coach, a shift that represents a loss for the German all-round sport, where he was also valued.
In youth training, the current national coaches will remain active:
Peter Teeuwen will remain in charge of the U21 and U16 teams.
Eberhard Seemann will focus on the U18 and U14 categories until 2028.
With this contract extension, Becker is setting course toward nearly 20 years as national coach, an unparalleled achievement in German show jumping. The continuity in the coaching system provides a solid foundation for future successes, with the big goal being the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Becker, himself a former Olympic champion with team gold in Sydney 2000, hung up his riding boots to focus fully on coaching the new generation. Under his leadership, the German team achieved several successes, including bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics, and individual world and European titles for riders such as Simone Blum and André Thieme.
Christian Kukuk's recent gold medal at the Olympics and victory in the League of Nations in Barcelona show that under his leadership, the German show jumping team remains among the world's best.
Assistant national team coach, Marcus Döring
In addition to the extension of Becker's contract, Marcus Döring will stay on as assistant national team coach. From now on, Döring will focus entirely on the sport of show jumping as U25 team coach, a shift that represents a loss for the German all-round sport, where he was also valued.
In youth training, the current national coaches will remain active:
Peter Teeuwen will remain in charge of the U21 and U16 teams.
Eberhard Seemann will focus on the U18 and U14 categories until 2028.
With this contract extension, Becker is setting course toward nearly 20 years as national coach, an unparalleled achievement in German show jumping. The continuity in the coaching system provides a solid foundation for future successes, with the big goal being the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.