Ludger Beerbaum is a name that has been closely connected with international equestrian sport for decades. On July 2nd, 2023, the 59-year-old announced at CHIO Aachen that he is ending his show jumping career.
Over 40,000 spectators in the Main Stadium in Aachen paid witness to the official end of the sporting career of Ludger Beerbaum ‒ Germany’s most successful show jumper of all time. His career began in 1985 in Dublin, Ireland, with his first appearance on the German Nations’ Cup team. He represented his country 133 times on teams and made an unbelievable 24 Championship appearances. Over his career he won 20 international medals, of which 12 were gold, highlighted by individual Olympic gold in Barcelona in 1992.
That Spanish city was also the location where Ludger Beerbaum retired from the German Nations’ Cup team in 2016. However, he continued competing at the international level, including Global Champions Tour events. Fittingly, the Rolex Grand Prix at the CHIO Aachen, which he has taken part in an incredible 35 times, was his final class. Aboard the good mare Mila, the pair picked up just four faults to finish in 25th place overall.
A few years ago, the show jumper had attested that he didn’t want to be competing at the age of 60. He then added with a grin, “But I haven’t put that in writing.” Beerbaum was out of action for a while recently after suffering a thigh fracture at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Doha in March. On July 2nd, eight weeks before his 60th birthday on August 26th, the time to bow out had finally come. And he couldn’t have chosen a better venue than CHIO Aachen, the place that he associates with so many fantastic victories and emotions, for the last lap of honour. Beerbaum won the Rolex Grand Prix there three times and he won the Mercedes-Benz Nations’ Cup with the German team six times at the Soers.
The sold-out Main Stadium made the perfect setting for the parting words that Beerbaum wanted to address to the audience that had cheered him on over decades and carried him to huge accomplishments. “Aachen is unique. You have all carried me on to success for so many years with your enthusiasm and always stood by me through all my victories and defeats,” he said. He also thanked his sponsor, Madeleine Winter-Schulze, and his long-standing groom, Marie Johnson, “for everything” before setting off on his final lap of honour and enjoying a standing ovation and a sea of white handkerchiefs for a horseman that has written equestrian sport history in Germany.
~ with files from CHIO Aachen
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