No room for error with new Olympic team show jumping format
By DENNIS PASSAJuly 8, 2021 GMT
The IOC spoke and international equestrian federation officials listened. So there’ll be a new wrinkle to the high-profile team jumping competition at the Tokyo Games — three-person teams instead of four for the the first time at the Olympics.
That means the worst score won’t be thrown out, as it was in the four-person team format. And there’ll be more pressure on the three riders to get it right on the jumping course or potentially see their team miss a medal chance.
The move came when the International Olympic Committee “encouraged” the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) to keep their total number of athletes under 200, including dressage and eventing. The team jumping change should also make it easier for the public and television audience to keep track of the scoring as the competition unfolds.