Age-Old Sport Set To Be Scrapped From The Olympic Games

After the Paris Games in 2024, horse riding will no longer be an official Olympic sport.

That's right, the age-old sport looks set to be scrapped from the modern pentathlon following controversy in Tokyo earlier this year.

German coach Kim Raiser made headlines for all the wrong reasons at the 2020 Games, getting sensationally sent home after she was seen hitting one of the horses being ridden by Annika Schleu.

PA

German show jumper Schleu had a nightmare ride as her horse Saint Boy simply refused to take part in any of the jumps on the course.

Schleu looked visibly upset as she was sent crashing out of the running to win a coveted gold medal after initially leading the competition in 1st place.

She ended up coming dead last.

PA

Damning footage then emerged online showing Schleu's coach Raiser striking Saint Boy and Olympic officials wasted no time in booting her from the Games.

But that wasn't the only moment at the Tokyo Olympics which raised concerns as several other horses also went rogue and refused to partake, leading for activists to call for the sport's axing.

Now, less than 6 months since that controversial incident, it's understood the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) Executive Board have held a meeting in which a vote to remove riding from the programme was passed.

Respected Olympics website Inside The Games has since confirmed these reports, claiming the UIPM could replace horse riding with a new form of cycling.

No official decision has been announced on what its replacement will be, although UIPM did not deny that Paris 2024 will be horse riding's last Olympic Games.

"As part of UIPM's commitment to maintaining a strong, dynamic profile for modern pentathlon, a series of strategic meetings are being held," the sporting body said in a statement.

"These meetings will include an upcoming call with national federations later this week. The outcome of these meetings will be detailed in a press release to be published on 4 November.

Topics: olympics, olympic games, Tokyo Olympics, Australia

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry