Potential individual medal contender withdrawn from Tokyo Olympic eventing

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Tom Carlile and Birmane at Jardy 2020: the mare has been withdrawn from the Tokyo Olympics
Tom Carlile and Birmane at Jardy 2020.
(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

The French eventing team has suffered a heavy blow with the news that star combination Tom Carlile and Birmane have withdrawn from the Olympics. The mare has shown signs of tying up after working on the gallops in Tokyo during pre-competition training.

“It’s no secret she has suffered from this muscle problem in the past, but for more than two seasons we’ve managed it perfectly to get her ready for the Olympics. We feel inconsolable to see the dream slip away from our fingertips,” said Tom, who added that, despite measures taken by the organisers, Birmane was unable to acclimatise to the conditions in Japan.

Pippa Roome
Pippa Roome
Magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.