Even at full gallop, Michael Jung kept glancing in disbelief at the massive scoreboard. The Main Stadium was already in a frenzy, the spectators had leapt from their seats and a standing ovation was sweeping through the arena and still he seemed to take a moment to fully grasp what had just happened. With an immaculate round, he had just secured the World Championship title, what’s more on home soil in Aachen. Accompanied, as with his Olympic victory in Paris, by fischerChipmunk FRH. A brief, incredulous shake of his head, followed by a transition into walk. Jung repeatedly patted his equine partner’s neck in appreciation, seeking a moment of connection with his horse, while the stadium roared around them. It wasn’t until then that he looked up and took in the cheering crowds and the depth of his emotion was clearly visible.

In the knowledge that he had just secured the silver medal for them with his ride, his teammates were already waiting eagerly for him at the exit of the arena – led by a visibly emotional Julia Krajewski. Tears of joy filled the eyes of the Olympic Champion from Tokyo – tears shed for the team’s success, but above all for fischerChipmunk FRH, whom she had trained as a young horse. “This horse is a legend. I hope someone puts up a monument for him soon,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. His current rider also had nothing but praise for his sporting partner, who has now competed in an impressive eight championships: “I have so much respect for this horse. He is incredible. At 18 years old, he is bursting with energy; he is intelligent and always delivers when it counts.” And on this day at the Aachen Soers, it certainly counted. The Hanoverian-bred son of Contendro I withstood the pressure. With a clear round in the jumping arena, he successfully carried the narrow lead established in the dressage and cross-country phases through to the finish (23.0). Trailing by just 0.4 points, Britain’s Rosalind Canter, who won Individual Gold at the World Championships in Tryon in 2018, secured the silver medal with Lordships Graffalo (23.4). Her teammate and reigning European Champion, Laura Collett, won Bronze with London (28.0).

As such, the two British eventers also laid the foundation for their country’s team success. Together with Tom McEwen on JL Dublin and Gemma Stevens on Flash Cooley, Great Britain set the benchmark in the team classification – just like they did at the Paris Olympics – and claimed Gold on a score of 84.0 points. In second place the German squad (95.6), which alongside Jung and Krajewski (riding Uelzener’s Nickel), comprised Malin Hansen-Hotopp with Carlitos Quidditch K and Libussa Lübbeke with Caramia FRH. The bronze medal went to the riders from the USA (113.5). The US team consisted of William Coleman with Diabolo, Boyd Martin with Cooley Nutcracker, Phillip Dutton with Denim and Caroline Pamukcu with HSH Blake.