The top 30 came to the start today in the individual final of the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Since 1976 it had not been since a Belgian took home a medal and with three duos in the jump-off, hopes were high. A very heavy course decided differently. After a nerve-racking jump-off Ben Maher took the gold title with his trusted Explosion W (Chacco-Blue).
First at the start was local jumper, Daisuke Fukushima with Chanyon (Chacco-Blue). The pair set the tone with a clear round in 43.76 seconds.
Sweden's Malin Baryard-Johnsson followed with H&M Indiana (Kashmir van Schuttershof). She turned in a shorter time and set a sharp time with a clear round. Fellow-countryman Peder Fredricson followed with All In (Kashmir van Schuttershof) and immediately set a better time.
Ben Maher and his Chacco-Blue progeny Explosion W did even better, undercutting Fredricson's time by 0.17 seconds to take the lead. This secured Maher a medal. Henrick von Eckermann did not make the chrono with the Belgian King Edward, which brought him back to third place.
Last at the start was Maikel van der Vleuten with Beauville Z (Bustique).