Several of the country's top show jumpers are worried about the national team captain Henrik Ankarcrona's OS selection.
Not Linda Heed.
She is already clear for Paris – as Max's equestrian expert on site.
Heed, 44, is Swedish champion both indoors and outdoors and was a reserve in the OS team in 2008. She has numerous merits from the national team and now competes frequently in, among other things, the Global Champions Tour.
In Friday's warm-up class (1.45-meter hurdles) before the weekend's GCT rounds at Stockholm Stadium, she came second on Skylander in tough international competition.
Like so many others, Linda Heed is looking forward to the OS in Paris and especially the show jumping in Versailles.
Fairly Certain
The day before the OS selection, she is fairly certain about which Swedish show jumpers she will meet and talk to and with in a month.
I'm saying... I'm almost completely convinced that it's Peder (Fredricson) and Henrik (von Eckermann) for sure. And then it's Rolf-Göran (Bengtsson) and then it's Malin (Baryard Johnsson).
I think Henrik Ankarcrona will have a hard time taking out the experienced gentlemen and Malin, the experienced lady in the group.
Heed means that it would be good for the sport in the long run if some younger rider takes a spot.
I might have hoped that Wilma (Hellström) would get to come in. Petronella (Andersson) has also made fantastic results. It would have been developing, but at the same time, it's that Henrik (Ankarcrona) should make results here and now, and that's what he chooses, as I interpret it.
TV Job Developing
Heed is facing her third OS as an expert commentator. A role she also means has developed her as a rider.
You follow the riders, analyze how they ride. How do they solve the tasks? How do they warm up? How do they match the horses before an OS? If you just sit and watch TV, you might not check those things. Of course, I try to absorb as much as I can, says Heed.
She herself has not given up the dream of getting to ride an OS. The long-term goal is Los Angeles 2028.
I answer yes to that every day of the week. It's clear. As a rider, it's, at least for me, the biggest thing you can do. I have a few diamonds at home in the stable that I need to polish.
