August 30, 2025 
In show jumping, age is just a number. Equestrians are routinely the oldest athletes at the summer Olympics. Ian Millar’s record-setting 10 Olympics appearances (ages 25 to 65) may never be surpassed. At the 2024 Paris Games, Laura Kraut (58) became the oldest U.S. Olympic medalist since 1952.
But at the Stephex Masters, the French team of three U25 riders—plus one O60—flipped the script, winning the CSIO5* Henders & Hazel Nations Cup.
Their score of four faults was the lowest, as was their combined ages.
Nina Mallevaey, 25; Jeanne Sadran, 24; Antoine Ermann, 24; and Roger Yves Bost, 59 years young, put in a powerful performance over the two round competition. The team sat in a tie for the lead on a perfect score of zero after round one.
Just one rail fell for the foursome in round two. The score of four was good enough to retain their lead and put them atop the podium.
Mallevaey, who is the world’s leading U25 rider and ranked world top-30 against the big guns, rode to one of two double-clear finishes for France on Dynastie de Beaufour. Ermann and Floyd des Pres delivered the other.
“I’m enjoying this period a lot,” Mallevaey reflected on her recent string of success leading up to the Nations Cup win. “I think I have amazing horses, and right now everything feels incredible. When Antoine was clear in the second round, we knew we had won. It was just an amazing feeling.”
Stephen Conter, who manages the Stephex Masters, was the one to give Mallevaey opportunities that she believes brought her to where she is now. The win in Brussels felt like a full-circle moment for her.
“My two clear rounds were for France and for Stephan, to whom I am forever grateful,” she continued. “At a time when I was looking for work, he gave me opportunities through his connections. Thanks to him, I am now competing at five-star level.”
As of August 2025, Mallevaey has racked up 61 international victories and 149 podiums. Ermann’s 68 wins and 156 podiums to date made him an easy pick for the team as well, though he sits lower in the world rankings than Mallevaey.
Sadran has 30 international wins to her name, fresh off the European Championships as she climbs the ranks as one of the top athletes in the world. She’s currently sixth in the U25 rankings, with Ermann just behind in seventh.
“During the Europeans I already felt more confident, and now I’m so happy to win here,” she shared. “It’s my first Senior Nations Cup victory. Last year was my first Nations Cup, and now my first win. This arena feels like something lucky for me.”
French chef d’equipe Edouard Couperie was confident in his picks, despite their youthful ages.
“It’s amazing in our sport that such young people can be so strong and push the old ones out,” he shared. “For me, it was not difficult to make a team here with three under-25 superstars. They are really, really good. Honestly, it’s not a surprise.”
Belgium finished second, adding additional young riders to the podium in Thibeau Spits (24) and Gilles Thomas (27). Switzerland finished third after a perfect performance in round one.
The more seasoned riders may feel the pressure of the next generation creeping in, but the Sadran says its motivating all around.
“I have the feeling the older riders are still happy for us young ones,” Sadran said. “I really appreciate this experience with all of them. Simon Delestre was here this afternoon to help Antoine and me. But of course we continue to fight to push the old ones out of the game.”
