July 23rd 2024.
Charlotte Dujardin, a renowned equestrian, has had an unfortunate incident that has caused her to withdraw from the upcoming Olympics. As a four-time Olympian for Team GB, Dujardin was getting ready to compete in Paris when she made a public statement on Tuesday announcing her decision to pull out of the competition.
In her statement, Dujardin admitted to making an "error of judgement" during a coaching session four years ago, which was captured on video. She expressed deep regret and shame for her actions, claiming that it was completely out of character and not reflective of how she normally trains her horses or coaches her students. The video has been sent to the International Federation for Equestrian Sports and British Equestrian, and a complaint of animal cruelty has been filed against Dujardin by a Dutch equine lawyer.
According to the lawyer, in the video, Dujardin can be seen repeatedly hitting the horse in order to lift its legs further. The lesson was sponsored and attended by the client and her mother, who were both taken aback by Dujardin's actions. The lawyer also revealed that Dujardin acted as if it was a normal practice, but later realized the gravity of her actions. As more similar videos came to light, Dujardin decided to take action and withdrew from the competition.
Dujardin, who won two bronze medals at the Tokyo Olympics, was expected to compete in both the individual and team dressage events in Paris alongside her teammates Carl Hester and Lottie Fry. If she had won a medal, she would have become the most decorated British female Olympian in history, surpassing cycling legend Laura Kenny. However, with her withdrawal, Becky Moody is expected to take her place in the team event.
Dujardin is one of the most decorated dressage riders of her era, with two gold medals at the London Olympics in 2012 and two more medals at Rio in 2016. She was also honoured with a CBE in 2017 for her achievements in the sport. In an interview earlier this month, Dujardin expressed her excitement and disbelief at the possibility of becoming Great Britain's most successful female Olympian. However, she also mentioned that she does not put pressure on herself and is just focused on giving her best in the competition.
The dressage competition at Paris 2024, set to take place at the iconic Chateau de Versailles, begins on July 30. While Dujardin's absence will be felt, her teammates and fans are confident that she will come back stronger and continue to make her mark in the sport.
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