Team Germany, gold medalists in the FEI Jumping World Championship 2026 - Aachen (GER), Team Final. © FEI / Benjamin Clark

21.08.2026

The rain could do nothing to dampen the celebrations in Aachen (GER) on Friday night as Germany stormed to Team gold on home soil at the FEI Jumping World Championship 2026.

Under the lights of the iconic Main Stadium, 40,000 spectators filled the stands and raised the volume with every clear round, creating an electric atmosphere worthy of a World Championship showdown.

By the end of the night, Germany had struck gold, finishing on 4.48 penalties to secure the Team title ahead of Belgium, who took silver on 11.69, with Great Britain completing the podium in bronze on 12.98.

Marcus Ehning (Coolio 42), Sophie Hinners (Iron Dames Singclair), Daniel Deusser (Otello de Guldenboom) and Richard Vogel (United Touch S) completed both rounds of the Team Final over two days without lowering a single rail, making Germany the only nation to achieve the feat.

“I have no words for this team,” German Chef d’Equipe Otto Becker admitted. “I’m really proud of what they did, especially today.

“To win at home in Aachen, when I see the crowd, and especially in the rain at the prize giving, they were all there. This is something special.”

Welcome home

The 10 nations that survived Thursday’s first-round cut returned in reverse order for the Team medal decider, carrying their cumulative scores into a night where every penalty mattered.

Course designer Frank Rothenberger (GER) raised the degree of difficulty with a 14-obstacle, 17-effort track, introducing the open water for the first time at this Championship and setting a tight 61-second time allowed.

Fourteen combinations produced clear rounds, but with questions posed throughout the course, focus and precision were paramount.

Germany entered with the advantage and immediately strengthened their position. Ehning and Coolio 42 opened with a clear inside the time before Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair followed without lowering a pole, adding just one time penalty.

Then came Deusser and Otello de Guldenboom. As they sailed over the last, the maths was done, sealing gold for Germany before fourth-line athlete Vogel even entered the arena.

“Simply said, I had goosebumps in the ring,” Deusser described. “It’s the result of a long journey this year. As Germans, it’s really unbelievable. You cannot describe it.”

Vogel and United Touch S followed their teammates’ example, leaving every rail in place and adding only two time penalties, which became Germany’s discard score.

For a Championship built around the slogan “Welcome Home”, the moment could hardly have been more fitting. Twenty years after Germany claimed Team bronze at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, they returned to the same venue and this time the gold was coming home.

Behind the four athletes at the prize-giving stood the wider team, including grooms Melina Jobst, Valentine Hssein, Marine Renaudet and Felicia Wallin, whose work with Coolio 42, Iron Dames Singclair, Otello de Guldenboom and United Touch S was integral to Germany’s golden performance.

Belgium take silver, Britain bronze

The battle behind Germany remained alive until the closing stages.

Great Britain stayed in podium contention after clear rounds from Ben Maher (Point Break) and Harry Charles (LT Holst Freda), with Charles finding redemption after a difficult Thursday.

“It’s a proper championship course and the atmosphere is amazing,” Charles explained. “Yesterday was a pretty low day. I’m very happy to get a clear finally. There was a lot of relief after the finish line and the feeling was incredible.”

With Britain’s discard score set at 15 penalties by Adrian Whiteway and Chacco Volo, anchor Scott Brash and Hello Mango entered with silver and bronze still in play. Their first fence down handed Belgium the opportunity.

Abdel Saïd (BEL) and Wathnan Quaker Brimbelles Z seized it, delivering a sensational clear to secure silver and leave Great Britain with bronze.

“We knew it was going to be very close and very tough,” Saïd explained. “We said we would focus, try our best and be on the ball, and it worked out.”

Tickets booked and history made

Round 2 also confirmed the first seven Team qualification places for the Los Angeles (USA) 2028 Olympic Games. With the United States already assured a place as host nation, Germany, Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland and France secured the coveted tickets.

Denmark had reason to celebrate too, reaching the top-10 Team Final for the first time at an FEI Jumping World Championship.

Caroline Rehoff Pedersen and Polonis L produced Denmark’s best round of the evening, finishing with just four faults.

“It’s a dream since I started riding, and now being here is actually hard to describe because it’s such a crazy feeling,” Pedersen explained. 

“I still need to process it because it’s unbelievable that we made this come true. It feels very, very good.”

One title remains

Team gold has been awarded, but one World Championship title remains.

Friday’s scores also shaped the Individual standings, with Steve Guerdat (SUI) and Dynamix de Belheme level with Daniel Deusser and Otello de Guldenboom on 0.86 penalties, while Ben Maher and Point Break sit third on 1.01.

The rain may have fallen over Aachen on Friday night, but by the end of it the Soers was awash with German gold. Attention now turns to Sunday, when the remaining athletes will battle for the last medals and the final World Championship title of Aachen 2026.

FULL RESULTS