‘My nod to the medals’: showjumper sports hundreds of golden feathers for Tokyo Olympics

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Dani G Waldman Tokyo Olympics
Springreiten Berlin 27.07.2019 Messe Berlin Sommergarten Palais am Funkturm LONGINES GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR of BERLIN Qualifikation GRAND PRIX of BERLIN mit Stechen Siegerin Dani GOLDSTEIN WALDMANN ISR auf DICAS *** Show jumping Berlin 27 07 2019 Messe Berlin Sommergarten Palais am Funkturm LONGINES GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR of BERLIN Qualification GRAND PRIX of BERLIN with jump-off Winner Dani GOLDSTEIN WALDMANN ISR on DICAS.
(Image credit: Imago/PA Images)

So far at the Tokyo Olympics we’ve seen plenty of athletes sporting tattoos of the Olympic rings and some very patriotic painted nails, but taking Olympic fever to the next level is rider Dani G Waldman, who is representing Israel in the Olympic showjumping.

The native New Yorker, who acquired Israeli citizenship in 2010 and is now based in the Netherlands, is famed for the “flying feathers” she has woven into her hair and which can be seen cascading beneath her riding helmet during competitions. Dani regularly changes her choice of colours, often co-ordinating to match various occasions such as at the European showjumping Championships in August 2019 when she patriotically sported a full head of blue and white feathers in the colours of Israel’s flag.

Jennifer Donald
Jennifer Donald
Showjumping and racing editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.