Paris Olympic Games 2024: Tom McEwen says Charlotte Dujardin withdrawal was 'shock' for Team GB - 'Sad for our sport'
Published 27/07/2024 at 17:54 GMT+1
Team GB eventer Tom McEwen said Charlotte Dujardin's withdrawal from the Olympic Games in Paris came as a "shock" to the team. Three-time Olympic gold medalist Dujardin pulled out of the Paris Games on Tuesday after a video emerged showing her whipping a horse multiple times. McEwen said the incident is "deeply sad for our sport", adding the team is "110% behind horse welfare".
‘It is about tomorrow!’ – Peaty sets sights on final after impressive heat swim
Video credit: TNT Sports
Team GB equestrian eventer Tom McEwen says the incident that caused Charlotte Dujardin to pull out from the Paris Olympic Games is "deeply sad for our sport", and that her withdrawal came as a "shock".
Dujardin, a three-time Olympic champion, pulled out of the Games on Tuesday after a video emerged which showed her whipping a horse multiple times.
Dujardin later apologised for the video, saying she was "deeply ashamed" and that her actions were "completely out of character".
"I think it was a shock for all of us, but at the end of it we're here to portray our sport in a positive light," McEwen said.
"I believe eventing is one of the greatest sports - we're the triathlon of the horse world.
"I would be more than happy to let anyone come into our yard and see how well those horses are looked after. I think our sport is amazing and these horses are treated like kings and queens.
"I do believe that this week, all of us here can show the sport to be the amazing sport that it is."
- Exclusive: Murray says London 2012 gold medal was pinnacle – ‘Meant the most to me’
- Swiatek kicks off tennis singles quest with straight sets win
- 'Really happy' - Whitlock leads Team GB to top of gymnastics qualifying group
Dujardin's actions were condemned by The International Dressage Riders Club, a group of leading dressage riders, which includes long-term team-mate Carl Hester.
The joint-most decorated British female Olympian was due to compete in the individual dressage and team event in Paris. She has instead been replaced by Becky Moody.
McEwen added: "We are 110% behind horse welfare. I definitely don't condone at all Charlotte's behaviour, but she has put her hands up to it, owned it and it's not for me to say, it's for the courts, the process and the people to decide what punishment she should be getting for her actions.
"She [Dujardin] is a human being at the end of it, so we have to respect her rights as well.
"It was a shock, but we have come here to do our job as an eventing team, so we have our focus and with eventing, you don't really get too much time on your hands.
"We've seen the news, we've read it, it's deeply sad for our sport, but at the same time I don't believe our sport is like that and we move on."
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement