Canadian Dressage Team shows experience beyond their years to beat the odds at Paris 2024.
Aug. 1, 2024, Paris, FRA - Led by two of the youngest competitors in the ring, the Canadian Dressage Team came to the Paris Games with a desire to fulfill their Olympic dreams. By all accounts, they did themselves and Canada proud. After two days of competition, the team of three ended just shy of qualification for 11th place in the Grand Prix.
Supported by those who believe in a strong future for dressage in Canada, the community stepped up and fundraised to make the trip a reality. The swelling of support on the ground and across the Atlantic was felt with a focus on allowing the athletes to perform their best. And, if the smiles on everyone’s faces were any indication, those dreams were realized. When all was said and done, everyone on the team is taking away incredible memories, experience and learnings to build on for Los Angeles 2028.
Naima Moreira and Statesman. Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
After being the reserve in Tokyo, 27-year-old Naïma Moreira Laliberté of Outremont, QC made her Olympic debut on Statesman (Sandro Hit x Brentano II), a 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by KML Inc. As the first rider out for Canada in Group A, the Pan American bronze medalist scored the highest test of the team with 68.711%. Focused on the Olympic experience with her longtime partner, “States,” she wanted to take it all in.
“It’s such a special feeling to be here representing Canada, it’s my first Olympics competing and my second one attending, so for this time around it was amazing. I have never performed in front of so many people, it was thrilling,” she said beaming. “I am so thankful for my family and friends who have come from around the world to share in this moment with me. I am so proud of my horse, I am so grateful to have done this with him and for my coaches and the support of Team Canada. I am so happy to be here, it really is a labour of love. We have worked so hard to be here so I tried to have fun in there - the atmosphere is amazing! ”
Chris von Martels and Eclips. Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
Second rider in his second Olympic appearance for Canada was Chris von Martels, 41, riding his Tokyo mount 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood (KWPN) gelding Eclips (Apache x Olympic Ferro) who he co-owns with Barbara Soederhuizen. The combination was only called up to the team in the week leading up to the Games when Jill Irving’s horse Delacroix II was considered unfit to compete at training camp. The pair were up for the challenge and delivered a 66.863% in the sweltering temperatures that have landed in France this week.
“Of course, it wasn’t the result I was hoping for – a personal best like everybody does when they come to the Games, but I was still pleased with my horse, he tried his very best and I feel like we underestimated the heat a little bit, but anytime you can participate in an event like this, I am so proud to do so.”
At just 24 years old, Camille Carier-Bergeron was competing for Canada at her second Major Games and her first Olympics. The Pan American bronze medalist was incredibly composed and prepared as she walked in the ring with her partner Finnländerin (Fidertanz 2 x Donnerhall 11), a 14-year-old Oldenburg mare. As the third to go for Canada in Group F, she delivered a solid test finishing with a score of 68.338%.
Camille Carier-Bergeron and Finnländerin. Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
“When I came in the ring, the announcer said I was the youngest one to compete in Dressage at Paris 2024, and the crowd was so welcoming, clapping and cheering for me, it was such a special feeling and probably one of the best moments for me in there.”
The moment was special even though Carier-Bergeron already knew she was the youngest. “I knew because my Dad follows everything! One day I came home, and he told me and gave me the list of all the riders in my class. He is not a horse person, but he is very involved, and so is my Mom. They are both incredibly supportive parents.”
She continued describing their performance and beaming with pride for her horse. “It was not our best, but it was still good,” she said. “We had two very costly mistakes, but I think that overall our performance was good and my mare, she was so with me the whole time and tried so hard in this heat, and even until the last movement she was there. I am so thrilled with her, so grateful to have her, and grateful to be here today.”
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
Once the Grand Prix day was complete, the team was able to reflect on the journey to get here as well as think about what is to come. Chef D’Equipe and Team Manager Olympian Brittany Frasier-Beaulieu was full of pride for the team and shared some of what this experience meant for her as well as the team.
“It’s been an incredible privilege to step in as the Chef for the Paris 2024 Olympic Team. The experience has been challenging, rewarding and enlightening to me and I go home with a new appreciation for all of the support that the Federation provides to us during any Major Games,” said Frasier-Beaulieu.
“I have to recognize what a sincere honor it’s been to work with the riders, grooms and support staff on this team. They have exemplified the definition of sportsmanship, and it is truly only because of their support for each other, their instinctive willingness to work together and their true understanding of the meaning of “Team” that we have had the results we have. Canada exceeded all predictions for a team finish, and to be 11th in the final team rankings was an amazing achievement.”
Chef D’Equipe and Team Manager Olympian Brittany Frasier-Beaulieu. Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
“Equestrian Canada operates with such limited resources compared to many other nations, and there is so much that takes place behind the scenes for teams to be able to travel and compete, it’s been an incredible learning. I’ve represented Canada as an athlete at the Pan American Games, the World Equestrian Games and the Olympics, and I’ve always found it easy to criticize the shortcomings, but now, I have a new perspective, and I look forward to taking that with me and to sharing it with my students and future teammates so that we can all benefit from the insights I’ve gathered."
Source: Equestrian Canada