Eric Lamaze has already won three Olympic medals – but a fourth will not be added anytime soon. For health reasons, the Canadian show jumper does not want to apply for a place at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
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Olympia will take place this year without Eric Lamaze. The 53-year-old announced on his homepage yesterday that he will not travel to Japan at the end of July – although he is currently the most successful Canadian show jumper with 23rd place in the world rankings. Lamaze had already won team silver and individual gold in Hong Kong with Hickstead in 2008, and in 2016 he jumped to individual bronze with Fine Lady in Rio. After the International Court of Justice (CAS) confirmed in January that the disqualification of Canadian show jumper Nicole Walker from the Pan-American Games was legal, Canada is not allowed to provide a team this year and only has a single starting place available.
“Without my team, I’m not a real competitor”
Eric Lamaze has been fighting a brain tumor for about three years. His “personal health” is now also the reason why he renounces a possible Olympic start. “I take my health very seriously and have therefore decided that Tokyo would not be the best place for me,” Lamaze writes on his homepage. “My health is currently stable, but there are various risk factors that I have to take into account.” Due to the corona pandemic, the Olympic Games are to be held under the strictest hygiene measures and without international spectators.
Lamaze also cites the role as an individual rider as another reason for his decision: “For me, the Olympics always means riding for the Canadian team. My success also came about because my teammates and I did our best for our country together. Having my horse owners, friends and fans there was what made the Olympics so special for me.
Olympia despite Corona?
Lamaze, who runs a stall near the Belgian capital, Brussels, also raised concerns about the current situation in Europe. “With everything we’ve seen in the last year – and there are still so many people going through terrible things right now – I don’t even know if it would feel right for me to win a medal.” At the Olympics In his eyes, gaming is about cheering up the athletes. “But right now is not the right time to celebrate,” says Lamaze.
He made the decision together with his sponsors Mark and Tara Rein, the owners of some of his best horses. The next big goals for Eric Lamaze are the 2022 World Championships in Herning, Denmark, and the 2024 Olympics in Paris. With Tokyo in mind, the door is now open to Erynn Ballard, Mario Deslauriers, Tiffany Foster and Amy Millar, who are also on the shortlist for the Canadian single entry slot.