Reigning Olympic champions Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH spearhead the German team hunting for individual and team glory at the 2026 eventing World Championships (11 to 23 August).
Michael will start as one of the big individual gold medal hopes with the 18-year-old gelding, who has been a stalwart of German teams since the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon. To win the individual world title on home soil with this remarkable horse would be a special moment for a man who has, really, won it all.
The pair, who won Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2022 and 2025, scored individual glory at Paris 2024 and finished runner-up to Laura Collett and London 52 at last year’s Europeans. Although the British team is yet to be announced, it’s likely those eventing heavyweights will meet again in Aachen. Add in three-time Mars Badminton Horse Trials winners Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo to the likely mix and the race for gold is shaping up to be a clash of eventing giants.
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The German team is very strong, and competing on home ground should be an advantage. Although the word “should” must be taken with a pinch of salt in horse sport, as we saw with the unlucky Brits at their home Europeans last year.
Three combinations from last year’s victorious team at the Blenheim Europeans feature in the line-up for the 2026 World Championships: Michael and FischerChipmunk FRH, Malin Hansen-Hotopp with Carlitos Quidditch K and Libussa Lübbeke with Caramia FRH.
Julia Krajewski and Uelzener's Nickel are back on the squad, after withdrawing their bid for selection for the 2025 Europeans. Julia, who was crowned Olympic champion in Tokyo with Amande De B’Neville, will be one to watch among the individual medal hopes, too, with this exciting 12-year-old.
Christoph Wahler, who helped the German team to gold at the last World Championships in Pratoni, also rejoins the squad after missing last year’s Europeans. He rides his five-star campaigner and championship debutant D’Accord FRH, with whom he has finished ninth at Kentucky and seventh at Badminton.
A notable absentee is Jérôme Robiné and Black Ice, part of the gold medal-winning team at the 2025 Europeans and who have finished in the top 10 on both their senior championship starts. The 16-year-old gelding hasn’t competed internationally this year and did not feature on the nominated entries, so is presumably on the sidelines this season.
German eventing team for the 2026 World Championships
The full squad, in alphabetical order by athlete surname, is:
Malin Hansen-Hotopp with 14-year-old gelding Carlitos Quidditch K
Owner: Dr Bodil Ipsen
Breeder: Miriam Kühl
Breeding: Quiwi Dream, out of a mare by San Patrignano Cassini
Michael Jung with 18-year-old gelding FischerChipmunk FRH
Owner: Klaus and Sabine Fischer, Joachim Jung and the DOKR
Breeder: Sabine and Dr Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff
Breeding: by Contendro I, out of a mare by Heraldik
Julia Krajewski with 12-year-old gelding Uelzener's Nickel
Owner: Prof Dr Bernd Heicke
Breeder: Hindrick Stüvel
Breeding: by Numero Uno, out of a mare by Lorentin
Libussa Lübbeke with 16-year-old mare Caramia FRH
Owner: Annelie and Dr Martin Lübbeke
Breeder: Annelie Lübbeke
Breeding: by Comte, out of a mare by Fabriano
Christoph Wahler with 14-year-old gelding D'Accord FRH
Owner: Hendrik von Paepcke and Stefan Haupt
Breeder: Christa von Paepcke
Breeding: by Diarado, out of a mare by Aarking
Reserves:
Arne Bergendahl with 10-year-old gelding Bronco NRW
Owner: Dr Susanne Dörner
Breeder: Helmut Bergendahl
Breeding: by Blockbuster, out of a mare by La Calido
Julia Krajewski with 12-year-old gelding Tullabeg Platinum
Owner: Michael Sperl
Breeder: Nicholas Cousins
Breeding: by Dignified Van't Zorgvliet, out of a mare by Cult Hero
