Charlotte Dujardin Withdraws from Paris 2024 Games

Icon of British equestrianism pulls out citing a young horse

Dujardin, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, is the joint-most decorated British Olympian of all time and has announced her withdrawal from the Paris 2024 Games.

The decision, announced on July 23, 2024, comes as a blow to British equestrian hopes. Dujardin has been one of the faces of the sport in recent years and her absence will be keenly felt.

In a statement on her Instagram account, Dujardin said that the decision was made after "much thought and consideration," and that she would be focusing on her "young horse" instead. She did not specify which horse she was referring to, but she has recently been competing with a number of young horses, including Imperio and Imhotep.

Dujardin's withdrawal is the latest in a string of setbacks for British equestrianism. The sport has been hit by a number of high-profile retirements in recent years, including those of Laura Bechtolsheimer and Nick Skelton. This has left a void at the top of the sport, and Dujardin's withdrawal will only make it harder to fill.