Julia Krajewski rose quietly up the German eventing ranks. She successfully competed right through the levels from Pony competitions, won at the Bundeschampionate with Chipmunk, and in more recent years has represented Germany at Nations Cups. She became Eventing’s first female Gold Medal winner.

Julia and Samourai, winning the Luhmühlen 4* in 2017, on the way to Tokyo Gold
(Photo – Eric Knoll)

Won at the Bundeschampionate in 2013 with Chipmunk

Aachen in 2018 with Chipmunk

And then Rio with Samourai du Thot

It was at the Rio Olympics that she was thrust centre stage with Samourai du Thot, being asked at the last minute to go from reserve position to take up a team spot, replacing Andreas Ostholt. Although Julia did not have a wonderful time at Rio, the Germans went on to win team silver and Julia has continued to grow and succeed, with wins on Chipmunk, now part of Michael Jung’s team, and his ride at Tokyo.

Julia and Amande showed good form in the lead up to the Tokyo Games with a win at Saumur Complet in May defeating the largely French field.

Julia’s Tokyo mare Amande de B’neville is by the 1.60m showjumper Oscar des Fontaines by the Danish bred showjumping star, Lando, out of a mare by Mr Blue – on the dam line we find three generations of b’Neville breeding, the mare line of master eventing breeder, Jean-Baptiste Thiebot.