It's the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final All Over Again (Only More French)

Does something about the 2017/2018 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final feel inexplicably familiar?

Do you have a lingering sense that what’s happening has happened before?

That you’ve seen this precise competition unfold in this exact way?

That’s because you have… A few times now.

Team USA is dominating in the individual championship this year in Paris, France. It’s a position they’ve consistently found themselves in for the past six years running.

Like in 2012, when Rich Fellers (USA) won the opening speed leg with Flexible in ‘s-Hertognebosch, Netherlands and then went on to win the coveted World Cup title.

©Kit Houghton/FEI

Or 2013, when Beezie Madden (USA) and Simon also captured the first round and the title.

©FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst/Pool Pic

Or just last year in Omaha, when McLain Ward (USA) and HH Azur swept all three rounds of the competition to claim the championship for Team USA once again.

©Liz Gregg/FEI

This year is on track to be no exception. Madden is doubling down on her efforts.

With two victories in the first two rounds, the double Olympic gold medalist is not only following precisely in the 2017 footsteps of her veteran teammate and gearing up for a sweep but she’s also well on her way to capturing the second World Cup title of her phenomenally consistent career.

And just in case that didn’t strike you as familiar enough territory, her closest rival on Sunday will be the Netherland’s Henrick von Eckermann, the same rider who finished second in the World Cup Final behind Ward last year.

So that feeling your feeling? It’s a straightforward case of déjà vu.

Kind of like when you look at this photo of Madden and Simon and see you and your horse reflected back.