August 07, (THEWILL) – The frustration of Germany’s modern pentathlon coach, Kim Raisner, leading to her punching the horse used in the competition, named Saint Boy, has led to her disqualification from the remainder of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Saint Boy had proved difficult while being used in the competition by the previous athlete. Then, it gave Annika Schleu a most difficult time as it bucked and refused to trot around the course, reducing Schleu to tears because there was nothing she could do to bring it to cooperate for her to keep up her progress.
Schleu was ahead of the field in the women’s modern pentathlon event. She entered Friday’s show jumping round leading the competition and was making good progress overall until the antics of Saint Boy threatened to reverse all the progress she had made.
When Raisner punched the animal, she was attempting to help get the horse under control as the modern pentathlon allowed athletes just 20 minutes to get to grips with an unfamiliar horse ahead of the show jumping round. Against Saint Boy, the ultimately powerless Schleu was seeing her gold medal hopes disappear in front of her.
However, concerns about the treatment of Saint Boy were raised on social media during Friday’s event. On Saturday, the incident was acknowledged by the Union Internationale Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), the sport’s world governing body, ahead of the conclusion of the men’s event.
In a statement the UIPM released subsequently, they confirmed the disqualification of Raisner, a former Olympian who competed at Athens 2004, from the Games.
The statement read: “The UIPM Executive Board (EB) has given a black card to the Germany team coach Kim Raisner, disqualifying her from the remainder of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
“The EB reviewed video footage that showed Ms Raisner appearing to strike the horse Saint Boy, ridden by Annika Schleu (GER), with her fist during the Riding discipline of the Women’s Modern Pentathlon competition.
“Her actions were deemed to be in violation of the UIPM Competition Rules, which are applied to all recognised Modern Pentathlon competitions including the Olympic Games.
“The EB decision was made today at the Tokyo Stadium before the resumption of the Men’s Modern Pentathlon competition.”
Schleu, on whose account the horse was punched, was unable to keep up with the competition and the women’s modern pentathlon was won by Kate French.
The Englishwoman therefore became only Team GB’s second gold medallist in the event, following the Sydney 2000 gold of Stephanie Cook.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
