Kent Farrington has announced his withdrawal from the world championships scheduled for August 19-23 in Aachen. This is a surprising decision for the American rider, currently ranked number one in the world and winner of the Longines World Cup Final in Fort Worth in April.
The American justifies this absence with a long-term strategy. "After much reflection on this season, I have decided to withdraw my candidacy in order to preserve my horses for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles," he explains via social media.
Greya, his exceptional mount fresh from its title win in April, and Descartes SR, nine years old and still improving, will therefore not participate in this quadrennial event. The former Rio 2016 medalist (team silver) believes the calendar is too demanding this year for his horses.
This breach of trust directly affects the composition of the US show jumping team, although nine riders remain in contention for selection. Farrington's choice reflects a growing trend among elite athletes: prioritizing the home Olympics over intermediate world championships.