April 27, 2025 
“I was thinking this morning: I have two chances of winning here,” Boyd Martin (USA) mused. “Maybe Michael went to the strip club last night or maybe he goes off course. But other than that, I was just hoping for second place.”
With all the records Michael Jung (GER) broke during the competition, it was hard to imagine a scenario in which he did not win. With two poles and 3.8 time faults in hand, he could afford to take his time on the course and still bring home the win with fischerChipmunk FRH.
“I really believe in my horse,” Jung said. “[At Kentucky], I always have a lot of luck. Warm up was nice. He was soft and jumping [well]. I started with a nice forward rhythm. We had a long way and many jumps to do.”
Jung used one of those rails at the Cosequin liverpool oxer but the rest of the course came up smooth and rhythmic. The cheers from the crowd as he passed the finish line and the feet stomping in the stadium were just as exuberant as every rider before.
“I really like this place, this stadium. The people support you galloping around and cheering for you on every jump. [They are] going with you through all the emotions, the ups and downs.”
The only rider to receive more cheers than Jung in the stadium today was the U.S. favorite in Boyd Martin. Adding only 0.4 total time faults across all three of his riders, the explosion of cheers when he went double clear on Commando 3 was deafening. He left the stadium to a standing ovation.
“To be honest, I wasn’t sure what I was in for this weekend,” Martin laughed about ‘Connor’.
“Last year, he was my backup horse for the Olympics, and he didn’t do a long format, three day event. I questioned if he had the guts and the heart to get through an epic competition like this. [But now], I think he could be a career changing horse. He’s got such quality. He’s beautifully bred with plenty of Thoroughbred, and he’s strong in all places.”
Third place was taken by Harry Meade (GBR), well deserving of a podium finish with his incredible cross country rounds of the day before. While cross country does not earn points for style, his FOD (finish on dressage) score on Et Hop Du Matz proved to be the most influential of the competition.
“Going into that stadium for show jumping, you always want to have a plan about how to execute the round and how you want to ride your horse,” Meade remarked. “But you can’t help but have a smile on your face and enjoy it. The freedom of expression and enjoyment, which is made up from the atmosphere and the architecture of the place, but also the people that fill it and the noise and the ambience. It’s hard not to rise to that.”
While Martin and Meade ride the high of their top finishes, both equally were in awe of the leader. Jung’s commanding lead, records, and beautifully sensitive and consistent riding inspire respect in his fellow competitors.
“I’m honored to be sitting next to Michael,” Martin said. “He’s inspiration to my riding. I often watch videos of him and try and copy him. I’ve never seen a rider that’s so good in all three phases. I think we will remember him as one of the greatest ever eventing riders.”
Meade echoed the sentiment.
“[Michael] will be remembers as one of the greats. I’ve followed the sport from the 50s, 60s, 70s—before I was even born, and I think Michi is hands down, without a doubt, the greatest event rider there’s ever been. I don’t think there will ever be anyone better. We are living in a moment with an extraordinary thing. I think often, when it’s happening, people don’t appreciate it. But in 50 years time? He will be remembered as the best there ever was.”
So there you have it: a living legend in the incredible athlete that is Michael Jung. While he may not have beaten his own record finishing score, for everyone watching the joy of witnessing his rounds and the joy of celebrating his incredible talents, training, and horsemanship feels like a record of its own.
