Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH haven’t competed in a five-star in three years—since they last won Kentucky in 2022—but there was no rust evident in their record-breaking win Sunday in the Defender Kentucky CCI5*-L.
The pair came to the United States and showed local fans exactly why they won individual gold at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, setting a new record-low score of 18.6 penalties in dressage (beating the old record, which they also set back in 2022, of 20.6) and going on to have one of the fastest cross-country rounds to extend their lead going into show jumping to a record margin of 11.8 points. In the end, they needed just a little bit of that significant cushion, lowering one fence early in show jumping, to finish on a score of 25.0 and take their fifth win at Kentucky, an accomplishment matched by no other rider in history.
In the post-competition press conference, British rider Harry Meade, who distinguished himself by producing Saturday’s only double-clear cross-country rounds, and doing it on both of his horses to finish third and fourth with them, made a point of talking about just how good Jung—a triple Olympic individual gold medalist (2012, 2016 and 2024) and one of only two riders to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing—really is.
“I’ve followed the sport from like the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, before I was even born,” Meade said. “And I think Michi is—hands down, without a doubt—the greatest event rider that has ever been. I don’t think there will ever be anyone better. And I think we’re living in the moment of an extraordinary thing. Often when it’s happening at the time, we won’t appreciate it, but I think [he] will be remembered in 50 years’ time as the best there ever was.”
Watch Jung’s three winning phases from his weekend in Kentucky here. Videos courtesy of USEF Network, powered by ClipMyHorse.tv.
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