Huge Blow to Belgian Equestrian Team As Ace Eventer Bows Out of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 Despite an Impressive Performance

The world watched as the best rider-athlete combinations took on the dressage test at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Some of the best eventers in the world aimed at clinching eventing gold, but some have bowed out miserably. One of them is Belgian eventer Lara de Liedekerke-Meier.

Belgium on the back foot as eventer bows out of Tokyo Olympics 2020

Despite registering an impressive score of 37.2 at the eventing dressage test, the combination’s journey ends here. A minor injury to Lara’s gelding has ruled her out of a potential medal. Even the Belgian team suffers from this withdrawal as Lara was one of their top eventers.

After session one, Lara and her gelding Alpaga D’Arville landed at #48, but that doesn’t mean they’re far from a medal. With cross-country and jumping to still take place, the combination would’ve gunned for a medal. Alongside that, her presence mattered the most since Belgium did not send enough eventers to the Olympics in hopes for a team medal.

A minor injury to Alpaga D’Arville after session one is the final nail in the coffin for Belgium. With their only athlete out, their hopes of securing an equestrian medal have taken a massive blow. However, the jumping team still has some hope of bringing some gold back to the European nation.

After a disappointing performance at the Euro 2020, Belgium needs some big wins at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 to wash that taste out of their mouths. They currently stand at #47 with one silver and a bronze. Will they add more to their tally, and will it come from equestrian?

Belgian hockey team on fire

Right now the best hopes of securing a medal for Belgium lies in their hockey team. The Rio 2016 silver medalists have made it their goal to clinch gold at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. In the group stages, they’ve taken on and defeated the likes of Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, South Africa and Canada.

The’ve been so dominant they walked out of the group stage unbeaten, and with four wins and a draw, they’ve topped the table. In the quarterfinals, they will have a monumental challenge in the Argentinian hockey team. Although the South American team finished only third in their group, they had two hockey giants in Group A.

India and Australia have both qualified for the quarterfinals and will face Netherlands and Great Britain, respectively.

Read more: Meet the Swedish One-Eyed Horse that?s Stealing the Show at the Tokyo Olympics 2020