The show jumpers step into the magnificent scene in Versailles palace park with Thursday's qualifying round in the team competition. A spot among the top ten guarantees a place in Friday's final, where the results from the qualifying round do not count.
The trio Fredricson, Henrik von Eckermann, and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson stand out with their collective Olympic experience. With Paris, they are up to a total of 16 Olympic Games.
Add reserve Malin Baryard Johnsson, and the number rises to 22.
"Creates a good environment"
Bengtsson is the most experienced, competing in his seventh. He did not participate in Tokyo 2021 but was a reserve.
Routine is, of course, good to have and to compete together with others who also have it. We know what we're doing. We know each other well too, we have a good time when we're out. It creates a good environment to achieve results in, says Fredricson.
Two Brits have snatched Olympic gold from him. First, Nick Skelton in 2016, five years later Ben Maher in Tokyo. He doesn't hide the fact that he and Catch Me Not want to fight for victory in the individual competition on Tuesday.
Yes, absolutely. I think we all do here. Rolf also has an individual Olympic silver, and I have two, Henrik has individual World Championship gold but no Olympic medal and is chasing one.
Maybe it's good that the individual jumping comes after the team competition?
Hehe, yeah, exactly. No one will say they're only here for the team. Everyone does absolutely everything for the team, but also wants to succeed individually, says Fredricson.
Into the bubble
He's getting deeper into the championship bubble he's become comfortable with over the years.
We compete almost every weekend, and you try to stick to the routines you have in normal cases. The circumstances are a bit different at an Olympic Games, but you want to stick to the routines.
When is experience most important in a championship?
I'd say it's about the whole package. That you have yourself and the horse in really good form when you get here. That's maybe the most important thing of all. And being meticulous about details and not leaving anything to chance.
And then being able to switch on and off and keep the energy up. That comes with experience. Hopefully, we'll see, says Fredricson.
Henrik Skiöld/TT
Facts: Peder Fredricson
TT
Born: January 30, 1972.
Lives: Vitaby.
Club: Österlens Riding Club.
Horse: Catch Me Not, gelding, 18 years old.
Major championship merits: Olympic gold team 2021, Olympic silver individual 2021, Olympic silver individual 2016, Olympic silver team 2004, World Championship gold team 2022, World Championship silver team 2018, European Championship gold individual 2017, European Championship silver team 2017, European Championship bronze individual 2021.
Previous Olympic Games: 2021, 2016, 2004, 1992 (eventing).
Current: Starts the team competition on Thursday together with Henrik von Eckermann and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson. Sweden won the Olympic gold in the team competition in Tokyo 2021, then with Malin Baryard Johnsson in the team instead of Bengtsson. Baryard Johnsson is the reserve in Paris.
Thursday: Qualifying round for the team final (11.00–14.00)
Friday: Team final with ten teams (14.00–16.00)
Monday: Individual qualifying round (14.00–18.00)
Tuesday: Individual final with 30 starters (10.00–12.00)
