A new family is on the way in the world of international show jumping. Olympic team champion Kevin Staut and his partner, Swedish rider Matilda Pettersson, are expecting a baby. The arrival is expected in early September.
Matilda Pettersson, 36, officially announced her pregnancy a month ago. She participated in the Norrköping Horse Show last week before deciding to stop competing. "I'm going to devote myself entirely to my pregnancy," she told the Swedish media outlet Ridsport.
The rider will not completely give up equestrian work. She will continue training her horses at the stables with the help of two riders from her team and the support of Kevin Staut, who will continue his competitive activities.
This announcement comes at a promising time for the couple. Kevin Staut, fresh from his Olympic title won in Rio 2016, remains one of the major figures in French show jumping, while Pettersson has established a solid reputation in the Scandinavian and European discipline.