October 19, 2025 
She’s second to go. Earlier, she scored the second clear in a tough class, built big and technical. A course that took out top-ten riders Scott Brash and Christian Kukuk.
She’s taking it slow and careful. She watched Denis Lynch of Ireland, the first in the jump off, lay down a tight and smooth round, nearly perfect, except for that blue oxer over the liverpool.
His time was 46.51. Her time is 50.25, nearly four seconds slower. A slow, easy clear. Hardly, one would think, a winning round, but to put up such a respectable double clear at only 19 years old—she is triumphant.
Next to go is Andreas Schou of Denmark. He’s moving fast, he’s turning tight. He goes to the Moroccan flag red-and-green double, smashed up against the VIP tent, heading towards the ingate.
And he loses a pole at the second of the double. He crosses the finish faster than Lynch at 45.59.
“Anastasia still leads!” shouts the commentator in delighted disbelief.
Next we have Pieter Devos of Belgium. Sure to be a masterful clear round. And it certainly looks fast. But—what? The double again? Only he and his mount choose the first of the double to knock and cross the finish at 46.95, moving into fourth place.
The camera moves to Anastasia Nielsen of Monaco, an open-mouthed smile adorning her face as she sits astride her horse, 11-year-old gelding Action Man, in the warmup ring.
But next up is Marcus Ehning. Olympic team gold medalist, three-time winner of the Aachen Grand Prix.
He’s not gonna make the same mistakes as the others. He chooses the outside line, a wider rollback. He’s going to take it a bit slower, a bit more careful, make sure he hits the jumps straight.
Except—the double again! The second of it! That oxer! That stupid red-and-green thing!
And Nielsen is guaranteed a podium place, third at least! The camera cuts back to her. She is smiling, she is laughing. “Despite all the talent!” shouts the commentator, “Despite all the experience that’s in that ring!”
As far as team Anastasia is concerned, the game’s already been won. A podium-placing in a five-star Global Champions Tour Grand Prix. People on the ground surround her, reaching up to shake her hand.
But now we have two brilliant Swedish riders on tap. First is Malin Baryard-Johnsson on the brilliant H&M Indiana. She’s flying. She’s clear, until—
The double.
She takes out the blue oxer with the liverpool and the last fence as well, hitting a time of 45.11, the fastest of the jump off, but that matters little.
Anastasia Nielsen has not only made podium, she’s in the silver medal position.
The sure-to-be-winner enters the ring. This dude, Peder Fredricson, has no less than FOUR Olympic medals, one of them gold. He’s got World Championship medals, he’s got European Championship medals, he’s got World Cup medals. He’s all that’s left between Nielsen and the most improbable result: top of the podium.
He starts slow. It almost seems as if he’s inching along out there, but he’s not going to make the same mistakes these others have. And then—
Do I have to say it?
Ok, fine—it’s the double. The second part of it goes!
At this point, remote as I am over here in Wellington, Florida while the action goes on in Rabat, Morocco, I’m screaming, I’m jumping, I inadvertently throw my little reporter’s notebook on the floor, I’m in ecstasy as if Anatasia were a best friend, a sister!
(She did once ride for my team, Team Eye Candy, back in the days of Major League Show Jumping, so maybe…?)
The camera cuts to Ms. Nielsen, surrounded by friends and admirers. She’s off the horse now, she’s hugging everyone within arms’ reach, or they’re hugging her. She’s laughing, she’s crying, and I’m doing the same.
And there she is, the only double clear of the day—on the top of the podium.
