Palestine is making Olympic history in Rio by debuting their first equestrian competitor. But there’s a controversial catch—he’s a German-born businessman who just obtained a Palestinian passport in 2011.

Dressage rider Christian Zimmermann’s representation of the contested state has drawn the ire of some Germans who think it’s an affront to Israel, and, by extension, the memory of the Holocaust.

Thomas Borgmann, a German horse sport journalist currently covering the events in Rio wasn’t afraid to voice his criticism following Zimmermann’s performance in the Grand Prix on Wednesday. “Germans have a dark history. We killed six million Jewish people. If you are a German with this history, you can’t ride for Palestine,” he said.

But Zimmermann insists his representation of Palestine is not about “riding against Israel,” but rather is born of a friendship he struck up with a Russian rider who had a Palestinian father. “After we got to know each other (the father) said why don’t you ride for us?”

“As a German, you think not only twice, you think a lot about this, but, at the end, I said ‘yeah, why not?’ I want the best for both people. They need to overcome politics and ideology,” said Zimmermann.

But according to Borgmann, the move is insensitive and smacks of opportunism. “This man thinks ‘I’m rich, I can do whatever I want.’ In Germany, there is no chance for this man to make our team with Isabell (Werth) and the other riders. And then he comes here. The Olympics are finished for this man. He has no chance….He can go home.”

After the first day of competition, Zimmermann posted a score of 63.271% aboard his Dutch Warmblood Aramis 606 and was ranked 28th out of 29 riders.

Zimmermann, who is part of a contingent of six athletes representing Palestine in Rio, doesn’t seem concerned about the optics of a German representing Palestine and says he’s even experienced a “nice moment” with an Israeli in the Olympic village, where they exchanged their state pins.

“I know it’s a small gesture only and it’s not a big political thing, but maybe I can do something. Maybe it can grow bigger,” he said.

Before Zimmermann arrived in Rio, the Palestine Chronicle wrote an article celebrating his participation under the Palestinian flag. The article notes “Zimmermann’s representation of Palestine in Rio is extremely relevant in allowing the Palestinian voice to be heard even at a sporting level.”

Zimmermann isn’t the only German-born athlete representing Palestine in Rio. Long-distance runner Mayada Al-Sayad, also born in Germany, is competing in the women’s marathon.


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