Longines Global Champions Tour is thrilled to unveil the third free episode of Rising Above presented by Longines: Proving Them Wrong. This episode delves into the heart of Dutch show jumping sensation Sanne Thijssen’s journey, where grit, doubt, and triumph collide.
At just 25, Thijssen is a force to be reckoned with, but her path to the top wasn’t without its challenges. “When you achieve incredible success at a young age the whispers begin.” Sanne recalls, her voice steady yet tinged with the echoes of past doubts. “People said I was just lucky. They said it was all thanks to my horse. But I knew I had to prove them wrong.”
Her journey began with the incomparable Con Quidam, a partnership that seemed almost fated. “I started riding Con Quidam when he was seven which is about 11 years ago.” she recounts. “We were both young, and we grew together, scaling heights that came quicker and easier than anyone could have predicted. The wins started to come quite fast and easy.”
But as meteoric as their rise was, it wasn’t without its challenges. Skepticism shadowed her victories, with critics attributing her success solely to the horse beneath her. “Most people thought my success was all due luck, and my amazing horse.”
Her meteoric rise faced a sudden setback when her cherished horse, Con Quidam, sustained a career-threatening injury five years ago; it was her opportunity to prove people wrong.
However, it was not as easy as she thought…
The world watched as the young rider struggled to reclaim her place at the top, grappling with horses that, though good, couldn’t match Con Quidam’s brilliance. Sanne explained: “After he was out, I had some good horses, but less unique than Connie was. So you keep on trying to go clear or get over those high fences, but it was not solving the problem. I started doubting myself. What if the others were right, and all my success was only because of Con Quidam?”
It was that period of her life where she couldn’t see light at the end of the tunnel. The darkness of self-doubt loomed large, and the thought of giving up became an all-too-tempting escape. But Thijssen’s story is not one of surrender. “There was a moment that I wanted to give up,” Sanne confesses her voice filled with the raw emotion of that pivotal time. “But when I lost confidence, my family was there to help me see things differently. I decided to train twice as hard and prove to myself that I’m good enough.”
With renewed determination, she pushed herself to the brink, training harder than ever, refusing to let the doubters win. After months of hard work, she finally started winning on her horse Hi There as well.
“We also grew into the top level together, that gave me a lot of confidence – that it’s not only one horse that I can do that big classes on.” Thijssen admits. Riding Hi There, she began to claw her way back to the pinnacle of the sport, each victory a testament to her grit and growing confidence she went on to add: “But of course, Con Quidam is once in a lifetime horse. And when Con Quidam got better, I was stronger, and I could give him the confidence at that point – so we got even stronger together.”
In her touching final remarks, Sanne opens up and puts on a brave face to explain the mental toughness of the sport: “It made me realize, I was doing something right! It boosted my confidence, and made me feel complete again.”
Proving Them Wrong captures every heartbeat, every tear, and every victory of Thijssen’s remarkable comeback, offering an inspiring glimpse into the relentless spirit of a true champion. This is a story of grit, heart, and the relentless pursuit of greatness – a story that will leave you breathless and believing in the power of self-belief.
The Rising Above series offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of equestrian athletes as they battle their inner demons and rise to greatness. Don’t miss Sanne Thijssen’s compelling tale of triumph, now streaming on the Longines Global Champions Tour social media channels for free. Watch as she rises above, defying the odds and proving to the world – and to herself – that she is more than just a rider; she is a force of nature.
Watch the episode here.:
Launch dates of episodes:
13 August: Bouncing Back – Christian Ahlmann
20 August: Proving Them Wrong – Sanne Thijssen
27 August: Defying Age – John Whitaker
3 September: Finding the Balance – Angelica Zanotelli
10 September: Becoming an Insider – Edouard Schmitz
17 September: Growing Together – Katrin Eckermann
24 September: Overcoming Fears – Niels Bruynseels
For more information on the Rising Above series and to watch the latest episode, please visit here or follow Longines and the Longines Global Champions Tour on social media.
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