In the electrifying Freestyle finale, Sweden’s Patrik Kittel stole the show and the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2024 title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia tonight with a superb performance from the 12-year-old gelding Touchdown.
The three-time Olympian has come close to the podium many times before, but tonight, at the ninth Final of his career, he stood proudly on the very top step when pinning Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Don Olymbrio into runner-up spot while five-time champion Isabell Werth from Germany finished third with DSP Quantaz.

Photo – Patrik Kittel (SWE) and Touchdown winners of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2024 – Riyadh (KSA) – Freestyle (Copyright © FEI/Martin Dokoupil)

In the closest of contests just 0.25 percentage points separated the top three, Kittel posting 81.661, Skodborg Merrald scoring 81.429 and Werth putting 81.404 on the board.
Kittel is only the second Swedish athlete to hold the coveted trophy in his hands in the 37-year history of the event. His trainer, Louise Nathorst, steered LRF Walk on Top to victory 26 years ago in 1998 on home ground in Gothenburg.

More to follow…

Result