Oleksandr Tovkai eliminated from show jumping in modern pentathlon after horse refuses to jump three times
Updated 09/08/2024 at 20:09 GMT+1
Ukraine’s Oleksandr Tovkai was left with a mountain to climb in the modern pentathlon after his horse, Varna Brecourt, refused to jump three times, ultimately eliminating him in the opening round. The reigning European champion was the highest ranked athlete from the fencing ranking round, but failed to complete his show jumping run - the only athlete to do so in either semi-final.
'Heartbreaking way to end!' - Horse refuses to jump THREE times as rider eliminated
Video credit: TNT Sports
There was drama at the Chateau de Versailles in the modern pentathlon when a horse refused to jump three times - eliminating its rider, scoring him zero points and effectively ending his chances of qualifying for tomorrow's finals.
Varna Brecourt was being ridden by Ukraine's Oleksandr Tovkai in the final run of semi-final B's show jumping round when it appeared to be spooked approaching the third jump.
The reigning European champion composed himself before circling back with the horse - who he had only met 20 minutes before his competition run - to reattempt the jump.
It looked like the refusal was a one-off until the very last moment, when Varna Brecourt pulled out of the jump again.
Two refusals down, Tovkai couldn't afford for another - three seeing him eliminated from the round and left with a mountain to climb to make it to the finals.
Following the first failed attempt, the Eurosport commentator said: “Varna Brecourt is a sensitive horse”.
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The highest ranked athlete from yesterday's fencing ranking round seemed to have things under control though, sailing over jumps four, five and six before cleaning tackling the course's second and last double.
But on the penultimate jump, the horse refused for the third and final time, effectively ending the contest for one of the early leaders of the Paris 2024 modern pentathlon competition.
After the third failed attempt, the Eurosport commentator gasped: “That is it. What a sensation! The leader of the fencing is out of the modern pentathlon.
"Oleksandr Tovkai is not going to make the final. What a stunning way to end and a heartbreaking way to end."
Tovkai's misfortunate was of benefit to both of Team GB's competitors Joe Choong and Charles Brown, who were bumped one position closer to a top-nine finish, which would see them qualify for the finals.
After all four rounds were complete, Choong would advance in eighth but Brown eliminated after finishing an agonising tenth.
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