Nice to have a new success on home turf.
But most importantly, King Edward continues to demonstrate his fine form with just over a month to go until the World Championship.
And that nothing unfortunate happens.
You never know with horses, says Henrik von Eckermann.
The rider stands out as one of a handful of obvious Swedish gold medal hopes in Paris – or rather in the Versailles palace park, where the equestrian sports will take place.
He stands out because he is the reigning World Champion and has been the world number one in his sport for almost two years. Moreover, von Eckermann excelled when he won the World Cup final in Riyadh as recently as April.
He knows what he and King Edward can do – and if everything falls into place, he will jump for gold.
It's something I strive for and am motivated for, but I'm keeping my expectations low. There's so much that has to come together. You can't forget that the percentage chance of me winning in Paris is extremely small, he says, referring to statistics.
There's a company that deals with that. If I enter a starting field with the best riders, I have a 6-8 percent chance of winning a class. It's an extremely small chance, but of course, it would be a fairy tale to win.
Not living in the Olympic Village
To avoid long and time-consuming transportation, the riders have chosen not to live in the large Olympic Village, something Henrik von Eckermann regrets. There won't be many opportunities to meet other athletes or take advantage of opportunities like when he spontaneously took a selfie with Armand Duplantis in Tokyo.
I think it's a shame. I think it's fun with other sports. It's a bit of a pity. We're living instead with, among others, cyclists and golfers. It will be a bit different, he says.
How do you feel about the Olympics, with everything that's ahead?
It's going to be fun. It's a goal that I've set my sights on, even if it's been a long way off. Now it's close. I hope that the final preparations go as planned and that nothing happens.
King Edward jumped two faultless rounds in the League of Nations team competition in Rotterdam on Midsummer Eve. This weekend's visit to the Stadium and the jumping in the Global Champions Tour will be the last outing before the Olympics. The time until then is about getting the horse in absolute top form.
Iliana, with the capacity to go to the Olympics if something happens to King Edward, is also stabled outside Stockholm Stadium. The mare is being matched in the old Olympic arena and will then jump in Aachen next week.
Indiana is resting
OS-qualifier Malin Baryard Johnsson had planned to participate in this weekend's GCT jumping, but is choosing to rest Indiana after the effort in Rotterdam. There, the pair had faults in both rounds of the team competition.
National team captain Henrik Ankarcrona will announce on Saturday which four riders he will take to the Olympics.
Bo Jenå (dressage) and Fredrik Bergendorff (eventing) will also release their teams.
Henrik von Eckermann
Peder Fredricson
Wilma Hellström
Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli
Evelina Tovek
Linda Heed
Emma Emanuelsson
Erika Lickhammer van Helmond
The ninth leg of this year's Global Champions Tour takes place on Saturday and Sunday at Stockholm Stadium. Henrik von Eckermann won the GP jumping last year.
Here's an excerpt from the competition program.
Friday:
+ International class, divided into two phases, 1.45-meter hurdles (16.25)
+ International class, time jumping, 1.45-meter hurdles (19.45)
Saturday:
+ First round of the Global Champions League team competition, time jumping, 1.55-meter hurdles. (15.00)
+ Second round of the Global Champions League team competition, time jumping, 1.60-meter hurdles. (18.30)
Sunday:
+ International class with jump-off, 1.55-meter hurdles (11.30)
+ Global Champions Tour and Stockholm Grand Prix, first round with jump-off, 1.60-meter hurdles (14.05)
Henrik von Eckermann and other Swedish riders will face tough competition in the five-star jumping. Germans Marcus Ehning and Christian Ahlmann, Brit Ben Maher, Austrian Max Kühner, Frenchman Simon Delestre, and American Jessica Springsteen are some of the most merited riders in the starting field.
