It’s a huge week for Italian equestrian as Milan hosts the FEI Jumping European Championship and the national team aims for a spot at the Olympics.
The Swiss are chasing the European crown and are also one of the six teams aiming to secure one of three Paris 2024 places on offer.
Another is host nation Italy, and their No.1 Emanuele Gaudiano is hoping they can be inspired by the energy of their home fans and the surroundings of the iconic San Siro venue.
Incredibly, it’s two decades since Italy last qualified as a team for the Olympic Games, although Gaudiano has twice competed as an individual.
“It’s exciting for us because being at home for this big competition is something different than normal,” he said. “The fans know we want to do well against our European rivals and also because of the Olympic qualification. It’s too long since we were last there as a team, back in Athens in 2004.
“I’m based around one and a half hours away from Milan so it’s very close for me. My wife, my kids and my father will be coming to watch, which will be very special.”
Historic Venue
Italy are in confident mood as they take on the Swiss as well as Austria, Denmark, Portugal and Spain. It would be quite something to secure their place in Paris at the historic Ippodromo Snai San Siro, which now features an area devoted to international equestrian competitions.
“For sure, we have the Swiss who are a very strong team and it will be very difficult to get in front of them. But there are two other spots, and we will go out there aiming to be one of the strong ones.
“The venue is very nice and right in the centre of Milan. I’ve competed there just once so far at an event last year. I think they’ve made it even better since then.”
Gaudiano will be joined in the Italian team by Alberto Zorzi, Emanuele Camilli and Giampiero Garofalo. He and partner Crack Balou get their European campaign under way today as they head out 18th within the first group.
“My horse is jumping well at the moment,” he said. “We had the Nations Cup in Falsterbo and Rotterdam and he just had one down, so I hope he will jump well in Milan."
“I have ridden him since he was young. He was a little difficult then, but in the last year he has improved a lot and taken big steps.”
Aiming for Gold
All Team and Individual riders will compete in Wednesday’s opening Table C Speed and Handiness class after which their scores will be converted into penalties. They all compete again in the first round of the second competition on Thursday, but only the top 10 teams and top 50 individuals go through to the second round on Friday when the Team medals and Olympic places will be decided.
The top 25 go through to the first round of the Individual final on Sunday, with the top 12 returning for a second round when the new FEI Jumping European Individual champion will be crowned.
Source: FEI
Foto: Emanuele Gaudiano & Nikolaj de Music, one of his other superstars
