August 16, 2016 
Zika, questionable water purity, personal transportation—Spain’s Pilar Lucrecia Cordon likely planned for many contingencies coming into the Rio Games. But nothing could have prepared her for what she and Gribouille du Lys encountered in the Deodoro Olympic stadium today.
It was a man. Specifically, a distraught man. And he was shouting what sounded like “Marie Isabella!” at the top of his lungs during the entirety of her round in the 1st Team Qualifier.
©Jane Thompson/Horse and Pony Magazine
©Jane Thompson/Horse and Pony Magazine
©Jane Thompson/Horse and Pony Magazine
©Jane Thompson/Horse and Pony Magazine
©Jane Thompson/Horse and Pony Magazine
Now you, along with the thousands of show jumping fans at the Deodoro Equestrian Center today, might wonder what could possibly incite someone to launch into a screaming fit like that ringside.
Was it an impassioned Brazilian fan?
A political activist protesting some great perceived wrong?
Jilted lover?!
The answer: None of the above.
Word from the Olympic Broadcast team is that the distraught spectator lost his mother that morning at the horse park and hadn’t seen her since 9am. She wasn’t feeling well. So like every good son, he was worried about her.
Mother and son were eventually reunited.
Despite the distraction or perhaps as a result of it, Cordon managed to make it around Guilherme Jorge’s course on eight faults. Spain finished 11th overall and will not advance to tomorrow’s team medal round.
*All photos generously provided by Jane Thompson at Horse and Pony Magazine. Check out their site!
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