Steve Guerdat produced an outstanding performance with Dynamix de Belheme (Snaike de Blondel). The Swiss combination remained clear throughout the final rounds, finishing on their score of 0.86 penalty points to secure the individual world title.

Behind him, Thibeau Spits delivered a fantastic result for Belgium. In the saddle of Impress-K van't Kattenheye Z (Indoktro K van't Kattenheye), the young Belgian bounced back from four penalties in the first round with three consecutive clear rounds. With a final score of 5.60 penalty points, Spits claimed a brilliant silver medal.

The bronze medal went to Harry Charles. Riding LT Holst Freda (Colman), the Brit produced a highly consistent championship. After four penalties in the opening round, Charles went clear in each of the following three rounds to finish on 7.17 penalty points and secure bronze.

Piergiorgio Bucci finished fourth for Italy. With Hantano (Quasimodo Z), Bucci also delivered a strong championship. After two clear rounds, the Italian picked up four penalties in the final round and finished on 7.57 penalty points.

Roberto Teran Tafur completed the top five. The Colombian finished on 7.58 penalty points with Dez' Ooktoff (Colandro). After one penalty in the opening round, the combination produced three clear rounds before adding four penalties in the final round, securing a strong fifth-place finish at the World Championship.

Daniel Deusser looks back on his individual World Championship in Aachen with mixed feelings. The German rider saw a medal within reach, but two jumping faults in his final round ultimately ended those hopes. Nevertheless, the gold medal from the team competition remains one of the highlights of his championship.

“If I have to remember something from this week, it will definitely be the second round of the Nations Cup on Friday night,” Deusser said. “But that’s our sport. Today, we had one fence down twice. To win a medal, it has to be better.”

Deusser found it difficult to pinpoint exactly what went wrong. “Maybe he was a bit tired, maybe it was a lack of concentration or a lack of energy. It’s difficult to analyse that right now.” At the same time, he stressed that his horse had done many good things. “In between those two fences down, he did a lot of good things as well. That is something that isn’t necessary in a round like this.”

Despite the disappointment, Deusser remains particularly proud of what Germany achieved in Aachen. “That fantastic gold medal will stay with me forever. I’m going home with fantastic memories. It was a great show with a fantastic atmosphere, and I’ll take that home with me.”

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Sophie Hinners looks back on her individual World Championship in Aachen with a mixture of disappointment and pride. The German rider saw her medal hopes disappear after a difficult final round, but she was still able to celebrate a remarkable top-ten finish at her very first World Championship.

“It was a little bit unlucky in the end,” Hinners said. “He jumped unbelievably again. I think he jumped the difficult parts so easily. In the first round, it was a pity to have a fence down at the last. In the second round, he started great, but we had an unlucky rail early on. I was a little bit too far away from the oxer.”

From there, however, her horse recovered brilliantly. “He jumped unbelievably well through the second part of the course right until the end. So I’m really, really proud of him.”

A double-clear round would of course have been the perfect way to finish, but Hinners remains proud of what the pair achieved. “Of course, a double clear would have been nicer today, but I think we can still be really proud to finish in the top ten at my very first championship, and his first championship as well.”

Despite the individual disappointment, Hinners leaves Aachen with a huge smile thanks to Germany’s team gold. “The gold medal was absolutely the most amazing part. I think we can go home with a really good feeling.”

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Also home rider Marcus Ehning can look back on his individual World Championship with satisfaction. The German rider finished seventh with Julio and can be pleased with his performance, especially after finishing fifth at the previous World Championship.

“In the end, I think we could have achieved a little more. I was a bit unlucky in the first round because I lost a shoe. But to finish seventh, after being fifth at the last World Championship, I think I can be happy.”

Ehning also felt more relaxed during the individual final than during the team competition. “For the team competition, it is always different. But it was a good start to the round, and I think we have the right World Champion.”

His seventh-place finish also comes on top of the gold medal he won with Germany in the team competition. “I think it shows that I have been very consistent over the years. For Coolio, this was his second World Championship, and he has shown the whole world that he is a true champion. I am very proud of him.”