Werth wins 14th World Championship medal, Jung takes eventing gold in Aachen

Werth's 14th World Championship medal

Isabell Werth, the 57-year-old German dressage rider, won bronze in the freestyle at the Equestrian World Championships in Aachen on Saturday evening, riding the mare Wendy. The bronze brought her career total to 14 World Championship medals, 10 of them gold. Werth, the last starter to enter the stadium filled with 40,000 spectators, delivered a spirited performance that drew standing ovations and minutes of applause. She had entered the competition knowing gold was likely out of reach.

“I actually didn't think it would be enough. But I of course wanted to somehow grab a spot on the podium. That's why my motto was: flight forward and risk, risk, risk.”

Werth clenched her fist as she rode out of the stadium. Her first comment was: "Who dares nothing, wins nothing." She described the crowd's energy as carrying the riders through the competition, and praised the atmosphere under floodlights that felt like a football match, 20 years after the equestrian summer fairy tale at the same venue during the 2006 World Championship.

Charlotte Fry defends title

Great Britain's Charlotte Fry, 40, won gold with Glamourdale, defending the title she first won in 2022. She had also won the Grand Prix Special the previous day. Fry had to wait as the last competitor for Werth's result before her victory was confirmed.

“I always have fear of Isabell. When Isabell is still riding, you have to expect anything. I know what she is capable of.”

Fry described the experience as "simply wow" and said Glamourdale "didn't put a single hoof wrong." Denmark's Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour took silver with Freestyle, while Belgium's Justin Verboomen finished fourth with Zonik. Germany's Raphael Netz placed eighth with Camelot, and Frederic Wandres came 15th with Bluetooth.

Hemmer withdraws from freestyle

Katharina Hemmer, a German team world champion, chose not to compete in the freestyle after winning individual bronze in the Grand Prix Special. She cited a brief injury pause for her horse Denoix earlier in the season, which had prevented her from preparing the freestyle routine at the German Championships in Balve and the Nations Cup in Hagen.

“We had a short injury break this year. That's why I wasn't able to show our freestyle at the German Championships in Balve, and also not at the Nations Cup in Hagen. Accordingly, it's not as prepared as I would like it to be to show a freestyle at a World Championship.”

Michael Jung doubles up in eventing

On Sunday, 44-year-old Michael Jung won individual gold in eventing and team silver with the German squad. Jung, a three-time individual Olympic champion, laid the foundation for his victory with a strong cross-country round on Saturday aboard Chipmunk, clearing all 24 obstacles. He kept his nerve as the final starter in the show jumping phase to secure both medals.

“He was so powerful. He fights, he gallops, an incredible horse!”

The German eventing team, also featuring Julia Krajewski with Nickel, Malin Hansen-Hotopp with Carlitos Quidditch, and Libussa Lübbeke with Caramia, took silver behind the British squad. Krajewski, the Tokyo Olympic champion, dropped from first place after the dressage phase to 20th in the individual standings after choosing a safer but longer line on the 5.6-kilometre cross-country course.