Christian Kukuk

Leading German rider Christian Kukuk was crowned the Olympic showjumping champion at Paris 2024 and has won many of the world’s biggest grands prix.

Born in 1990, Christian comes from a horsey family and his grandfather Franz Kukuk was a famed dressage rider, but he didn’t start riding until he was a teenager, preferring instead to play football. However Christian has gone on to forge a stellar career in the saddle and is regularly ranked among the top 10 riders in the world.

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, he won individual gold with his great partner Checker 47, becoming the first German showjumper since Ulrich Kirchhoff in 1996 to win the title.

Christian is based at Riesenbeck in Germany, the home of the great Ludger Beerbaum, who has been his mentor for the past few years.

His top horses include Checker 47, Mumbai and Just Be Gentle. As well as the Olympic gold medal, Christian’s illustrious list of successes include winning the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona for two successive years and team silver at the 2021 European showjumping championships.

Away from the showjumping ring, Christian still follows football and he is a Bayern Munich fan. The team’s attacking midfielder and former international hero Thomas Müller is co-owner of his top horse Checker 47, along with Madeleine Winter-Schulze.

Christian won the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award at a glittering ceremony in Abu Dhabi in November 2024.