Jeroen Dubbeldam: The Dutch legend in show jumping
Jeroen Dubbeldam is an icon in show jumping and the only Dutchman to have won Olympic gold as well as individual world and European championship gold. With his impressive career and his commitment to equestrian sport, he has made a name for himself worldwide. Discover the highlights of his sporting career and the importance of his work for international equestrian sport.
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Who is Jeroen Dubbeldam?
Jeroen Dubbeldam, born on April 15, 1973 in Zwolle, the Netherlands, is undoubtedly one of the greatest show jumpers of all time. He is the only Dutch rider to have won Olympic gold, World Championship gold and European Championship gold as an individual, making him one of an extremely exclusive group of riders to have achieved this extraordinary feat. With his numerous successes, he has secured himself a permanent place in the history of international equestrian sport.
From late entry into the sport to international breakthrough
Unlike many of his colleagues, Jeroen Dubbeldam started riding relatively late. Although he was born into a family that was deeply rooted in the equestrian world, he was initially more interested in soccer than riding. He only began riding seriously at the age of 11 or 12. But as soon as he was in the saddle, his great talent quickly became apparent. He celebrated his first major international success in 1994 when he won the individual gold medal at the European Young Rider Championships with Killarney. He also won a bronze medal with the team at this tournament, which underlined his abilities as a team player.
Dubbeldam's breakthrough in the equestrian world came in 1998 when he competed at the World Equestrian Games in Rome with De Sjiem. Although he finished 18th in the individual classification, he showed his potential even then and helped the Dutch team to fifth place. Another success followed in 1999, when Dubbeldam and De Sjiem won the bronze medal with the Dutch team at the European Championships in Hickstead.
Jeroen Dubbeldam's greatest successes
Jeroen Dubbeldam's success story goes far beyond his Olympic and world championship triumphs. Over the course of his career, he has represented the Netherlands at 15 international championships and has been part of the Dutch team in Nations Cups over 60 times. In 2009 he became Dutch champion with BMC van Grunsven Whisper and again in 2011, this time with BMC Quality Time TN.
In 2014, Dubbeldam was named Reem Acra Athlete Of The Year by the FEI, an honor that recognized his outstanding achievements in show jumping.
Jeroen Dubbeldam is also strongly committed to equestrian sport outside of competition. He is an ambassador for Manege 't Hoefijzer, the National Center for Riding for People with Disabilities, and is committed to promoting disabled riding in the Netherlands.
Olympic gold and legendary victories
The highlight of Jeroen Dubbeldam's career came in 2000 at the Olympic Games in Sydney. With his legendary horse De Sjiem, he surprisingly won the individual gold medal in show jumping, making him the first Dutch Olympic champion in this discipline. This victory was not only a milestone for Dubbeldam, but also for Dutch equestrian sport as a whole. A year later, he made history again when he won the Grand Prix of Aachen with De Sjiem - one of the most prestigious titles in show jumping.
Dubbeldam's run of success continued in the following years. In 2006, he became world champion with the Dutch team at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, and in 2007 he again won the gold medal with the team at the European Championships in Mannheim.
World Championship and European Championship gold
Another highlight in Dubbeldam's career came in 2014, when he won both the individual and team competitions at the World Equestrian Games in Caen, France, with Zenith SFN, making him the first Dutch show jumper to become World Champion. This achievement put him in the same league as legends Hans Günter Winkler and Pierre Jonquères d'Oriola, who were also both Olympic and World Champions.
In 2015, Dubbeldam continued his dominance and became both individual and team European Champion in Aachen. At these European Championships, he was the only rider not to make a single jumping fault in all rounds of the individual competition - a remarkable achievement that definitively elevated him to the Olympus of show jumping.
You can find a detailed overview of Jeroen Dubbeldam's successes in the table below:
The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro
Dubbeldam competed again at the 2016 Olympic Games, this time in Rio de Janeiro. With Zenith SFN, he represented the Dutch team for the second time in his career. Despite a strong performance, in which he remained clear in the individual classification, he missed out on the jump-off for a medal due to a time penalty in the second round and ultimately finished seventh in both the individual and team classification. Nevertheless, he once again showed that he is one of the best show jumpers in the world.
Stal De Sjiem: A success story
In 2000, Jeroen Dubbeldam founded his own stable, which he named "De Sjiem" after his Olympic horse. Stal De Sjiem in Weerselo, where he works together with Annelies Vorsselmans, has established itself as one of the leading centers for the training and development of show jumpers. Before he stood on his own two feet, Dubbeldam trained under the guidance of Hans Horn, and many of the horses that have shaped his career were with his former trainer during this time.
Dubbeldam's ability to deliver to the point and achieve top performances with his horses has earned him the respect of his colleagues and trainers. Dutch national coach Rob Ehrens praises him for his exceptional ability to work towards big goals over the long term and describes him as an invaluable resource for any team.
Jeroen Dubbeldam's successful horses
De Sjiem (*1989)
Breed: KWPN (Koninklijk Warmbloed Paard Nederland)
Sex: gelding
Color: grey
Pedigree: Aram x Wahtamin XX
De Sjiem, a KWPN gray gelding, was born in 1988 and was the horse that made Jeroen Dubbeldam world-famous. Despite a difficult start to their partnership, De Sjiem developed into an exceptional horse that impressed with his enormous jumping power and character. The big breakthrough came in 2000, when Dubbeldam won the individual gold medal with De Sjiem at the Olympic Games in Sydney - a historic victory that put Dutch show jumping at the center of world attention. A year later, the pair crowned their career with victory in the Grand Prix of Aachen, one of the most prestigious competitions in show jumping. De Sjiem was not just a horse for Dubbeldam, but a partner who accompanied him on his way to the top of the world.
Zenith (*2004)
Breed: KWPN
Sex: Gelding
Color: Dark bay
Pedigree: Rash R x Fuego Du Prelet
Zenitha dark bay KWPN gelding born in 2004, was another formative horse in Dubbeldam's career. Zenith came to the fore in 2014 when, together with Dubbeldam, he won both the individual and team competitions at the World Equestrian Games in Caen, France. In 2015, the duo continued their winning streak at the European Championships in Aachen, where they again took both gold medals. Zenith was known for his stamina and his ability to perform at the highest level at crucial moments. He contributed significantly to Dubbeldam's reputation as one of the best show jumpers in the world.
Oak Grove's Carlyle (*2008)
Sex: gelding
Descent: Casall x Corrado
Breed: Holsteiner
Oak Grove's Carlylea bay Holsteiner gelding born in 2008, is one of the younger stars in Jeroen Dubbeldam's stable. Carlyle quickly established himself as one of the most promising horses in Dubbeldam's team. In 2020, the pair won the bronze medal at the Dutch Championships, highlighting Carlyle's potential in international sport. Carlyle is highly regarded for his consistency and potential in the highest classes of show jumping and could play a central role in Dubbeldam's career in the coming years.
Quality Time TN (*2002)
Breed: KWPN
Sex: Stallion
Color: Dark bay
Pedigree: Quantum x Cantus
Quality Time TN, a dark bay KWPN stallion born in 2002, was an outstanding horse in both sport and breeding. Dubbeldam won the Dutch Championships with him in 2011. Quality Time TN was characterized by his excellent technique and strong nerves, which made him one of the favorites in many international competitions. He also left a lasting influence on breeding and contributed to Dubbeldam's many successes.
Simon (*1999)
Breed: KWPN
Sex: Gelding
Color: Dark bay
Pedigree: Mr. Blue x Polydox
Simon, a dark bay KWPN gelding born in 1999, was another outstanding horse in Dubbeldam's career. Simon brought him numerous successes, including third place at the 2011 World Cup Final in Leipzig. Simon was known for his power and jumping technique, which helped Dubbeldam to many victories in the highest classes of show jumping before the horse was sold to the US rider Beezie Madden.
Up And Down (*1997)
Breed: KWPN
Sex: Gelding
Color: Chestnut
Pedigree: Ohio v/d Padenborre x Chin Chin
Up And Down, a dark bay KWPN gelding born in 1992, was a loyal companion for Jeroen Dubbeldam in many important international competitions. With him, Dubbeldam won the team world championships at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen in 2006 and the team title at the European Championships in Mannheim in 2007. Up And Down was known for his reliability and consistency, which made him an indispensable part of the Dutch team in many successful years.
Setbacks and comebacks
Like every great athlete, Jeroen Dubbeldam had to learn to deal with setbacks. In 2020, he proved his class once again when he won the bronze medal at the Dutch Championships with Oak Grove's Carlyle, showing that he is still one of the world's best even after decades in the sport.
Dubbeldam remains calm and level-headed even in difficult situations, as he showed at a Nations Cup when Zenith SFN was unsettled after the applause for the previous rider. Dubbeldam managed to calm his horse and guide it confidently through the course - another example of his exceptional connection to his horses.
Conclusion
Jeroen Dubbeldam is not only an outstanding show jumper, but also a legend of international equestrian sport. With his unique talent, determination and ability to deliver time and time again, he has secured himself a place in the history of the sport. His numerous successes, including Olympic gold, World and European Championship titles, as well as his tireless commitment to equestrian sport, make him a role model for future generations.
With his work at Stal De Sjiem and his continued pursuit of excellence, Dubbeldam's legacy will resonate for a long time to come. Whether on or off the showground, Jeroen Dubbeldam remains a shining example of what can be achieved with talent, hard work and the right attitude.