Ludger Beerbaum (German pronunciation: [ˈluːtɡɛʁ ˈbeːɐˌbaʊ̯m], audio; born 26 August 1963 in Detmold, North Rhine-Westphalia) is an internationally successful German equestrian who competes in show jumping and has been ranked the No. 1 Show Jumper in the world by the FEI on multiple occasions. He is also a four-time Olympic Gold medalist team and individual.

Ludger Beerbaum
Personal information
Full nameLudger Beerbaum
Nationality Germany
DisciplineShow jumping
Born (1963-08-26) 26 August 1963 (age 61)
Detmold, West Germany
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight176 lb (80 kg)
Medal record
Equestrian
Representing  West Germany
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul Team jumping
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1990 Stockholm Team jumping
Representing  Germany
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona Individual jumping
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta Team jumping
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney Team jumping
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team jumping
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1994 The Hague Team jumping
Gold medal – first place 1998 Rome Team jumping
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Aachen Team jumping
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1997 Mannheim Individual jumping
Gold medal – first place 1997 Mannheim Team jumping
Gold medal – first place 1999 Hickstead Team jumping
Gold medal – first place 2001 Arnhem Individual jumping
Gold medal – first place 2003 Donaueschingen Team jumping
Silver medal – second place 2003 Donaueschingen Individual jumping
Silver medal – second place 2007 Mannheim Team jumping
Silver medal – second place 2013 Herning Team jumping
Silver medal – second place 2015 Aachen Team jumping
Bronze medal – third place 2001 Arnhem Team jumping
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Mannheim Individual jumping
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1993 Gothenburg Individual jumping
Silver medal – second place 2002 Leipzig Individual jumping
Silver medal – second place 2010 Geneva Individual jumping
Silver medal – second place 2014 Lyon Individual jumping
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Helsinki Individual jumping
Ludger Beerbaum with A-Corrada at CSIYH* in Wiesbaden 2015

Early life and competitive career

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Beerbaum was born in Detmold, Germany. In school, he took Business Studies, but eventually gave it up for a career in show jumping.

Beerbaum began riding on a Highland Pony at the age of 8. He had a very successful career as a young Rider which continued into his adulthood. His most notable accomplishments include winning 4 Olympic Golds (his first at age 25) and numerous European and World Championship medals.

On Sunday 21 September 2008, at the Samsung Super League Final in Barcelona, Beerbaum was a member of the winning German Nations Cup team. He was awarded Leading Rider of the 2008 Super League, along with 50,000 CHF ($46,000).[1] In the Final, he rode the nine-year-old Westphalian gelding, All Inclusive NRW to a double clear round, and was one of only two riders to do so, his teammate Marco Kutscher being the other.[2]

Family

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Ludger Beerbaum is the oldest of 4 children, his siblings being Ruth, Monika, and show jumper Markus Beerbaum.

He is married to Arundell Davison, with whom he has two daughters (Cecilia Sophie and Mathilde). From his previous marriage, he has a son (Alexander).

He is also brother-in-law to Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum.

Top horses

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Ludger Beerbaum at the 2008 Olympics
  • Goldfever: 1991 chestnut Hanoverian stallion (by Grosso Z)
  • Classic Touch 1984 Bay (Holstein) Mare by Caletto II (GOLD Barcelona olympics 1992)
  • Ratina Z: 1982 bay Hanoverian mare (Ramiro Z x Almé Z)
  • Gladdys S: 1992 chestnut Westphalian mare (Grandeur x Apart)
  • PS Priamos: 1982 chestnut Westphalian gelding (Pilot x Direx)
  • Enorm: 1997 bay Hanoverian gelding (Escudo I x Calypso II)
  • Couleur Rubin: 1996 chestnut Oldenburg stallion (by Cordalme Z)
  • L'Espoir: 1996 chestnut Zangersheide gelding (by Landwind II)
  • All Inclusive: 1999 bay Westphalian gelding (Arpeggio x Phantom)

Doping offense

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At the 2004 Olympic Games, Beerbaum and his mount, Goldfever, managed to finish with only 4 penalty points, helping Germany earn the team gold medal. However, following the competition, Goldfever tested positive for the prohibited substance betamethasone. The International Equestrian Federation found Beerbaum guilty of breaking the rules, stripping both him and his German team of their gold medals, dropping Germany down to bronze.[3] Beerbaum believed the substance to have been present in an ointment administered to the horse due to a skin irritation, and the FEI agreed that the substance provided no competitive advantage. However, in accordance with the rule, Beerbaum was disqualified.[4] He then appealed the decision to the CAS. After the hearing took place, they ruled that Germany's stripped gold medal was then given to the Americans and the silver to the Swedish show jumping team. The Germans, however, were still able to take the bronze medal, even without Goldfever's results.[5][6][7]

Major achievements

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Olympic Games

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  • Team gold medal - 1988 Olympic Games Seoul: 17.25 penalties (The Freak)
  • Individual gold medal - 1992 Olympic Games Barcelona: 0 penalties (Classic Touch)
  • Team gold medal - 1996 Olympic Games Atlanta: 1.75 penalties (Ratina Z)
  • Team gold medal - 2000 Olympic Games Sydney: 15 penalties (Goldfever 3)
  • Disqualified, losing team gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games AthensSee "Doping Offense" above (Goldfever 3)
  • Team bronze medal - 2016 Summer Olympics Rio: Casello
  • Team bronze & Individual bronze - 1984 CH-EU-Y in Cervia, Italy (Wittersfernde)
  • Team 5th & Individually 23rd - 1987 CH-EU in St. Gallen, Switzerland (Wiener Domspatz)
  • Team 5th & Individually 21st - 1991 CH-EU in La Baule, France (Grand Plaisir)
  • Team 4th & Individually 29th - 1993 CH-EU in Gijon, Spain (Rush On)
  • Team gold & Individual gold - 1997 CH-EU in Mannheim, Germany (Ratina Z)
  • Team gold & Individually 26th - 1999 CH-EU in Hickstead, Great Britain (Champion du Lys)
  • Team bronze & Individual gold - 2001 CH-EU in Arnhem, Netherlands (Gladdys S)
  • Team gold & Individual silver - 2003 CH-EU in Donaueschingen, Germany (Goldfever 3)
  • Team silver & Individual bronze - 2007 CH-EU in Mannheim, Germany (Goldfever 3)
  • Team gold & Individually 8th - 2011 CH-EU in Madrid, Spain (Gotha FRH)[8]
  • Team silver & Individually 6th - 2013 CH-EU in Herning, Denmark (Chiara 222)[9]
  • Team silver & Individually 12th - 2015 CH-EU in Aachen, Germany (Chiara 222)[10]
  • 1st - 1993 World Cup Final in Göteborg, Sweden (Ratina Z)
  • 4th - 1995 World Cup Final in Göteborg, Sweden (Gaylord & Ratina Z)
  • 6th - 1996 World Cup Final in Geneve, Switzerland (Gaylord & Rush On)
  • 3rd - 1998 World Cup Final in Helsinki, Finland (P.S. Priamos)
  • 6th - 1999 World Cup Final in Göteborg, Sweden (Ratina Z & P.S. Priamos)
  • 4th - 2000 World Cup Final in Las Vegas, USA (Goldfever 3)
  • 2nd - 2002 World Cup Final in Leipzig, Germany (Gladdys S)
  • 8th - 2003 World Cup Final in Las Vegas, USA (Goldfever 3)
  • 12th - 2005 World Cup Final in Las Vegas, USA (Couleur Rubin)
  • 4th - 2008 World Cup Final in Göteborg, Sweden (All Inclusive NRW)
  • 6th - 2009 World Cup Final in Las Vegas, USA (Coupe de Coeur)
  • Joint 2nd - 2010 World Cup Final in Le Grand-Saconnex near Geneve, Switzerland (Gotha FRH)
  • 2nd - 2014 World Cup Final in Lyon, France (Chaman & Chiara 222)

Other major achievements

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  • Multiple World No. 1 Show Jumper ranking by the FEI
  • 8-time winner of the German masters (1988, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004)
  • 3-time Rider of the Year (2001, 2002, 2003)
  • 3-time winner of the Grand Prix of Aachen (1996 Ratina Z; 2002 and 2003 Goldfever 3)
  • Winner of the Bambi prize in 1992
  • Winner of the 2002 CN International at the Spruce Meadows Masters on the stallion, Goldfever 3.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "xe.com – Universal Currency Converter". Retrieved 30 September 2008.
  2. ^ "Germany takes it all at the Samsung Super League with FEI final in Barcelona". Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
  3. ^ "World equestrian body dismisses Irish defense of positive drug test". ESPN.com. 2004-11-11. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  4. ^ "German show jumping team loses gold". ESPN.com. 2005-01-08. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  5. ^ "German appeals equestrian doping disqualification". The Star Banner. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  6. ^ "Doped horse costs Germany show jumping medal". ABC News. 2004-12-04. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  7. ^ "A medal of a different colour". CBC Sports. September 5, 2005. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  8. ^ FEI European Jumping Championships Final 2011 (August 13th to 18th) European Championship Jumping Individuals Madrid 2011
  9. ^ P.S.I. FEI European Jumping Championships 2013 Final (August 20th to 25th) European Championship Jumping Individuals Herning 2013
  10. ^ FEI European Championships (August 11th to 23rd) European Championship Jumping Individuals Aachen 2015
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