Justina Vanagaite takes uncommon path to Paris 2024

For a heartwarming Olympic dressage story, look no additional than Justina Vanagaité-Samuile. The Lithuanian rider is the primary to symbolize her nation at any Olympic equestrian occasion, and left the world at Paris 2024 blowing kisses and waving exuberantly to the cheering crowd.

“It’s not simply my first Olympics, it’s Lithuania’s – I’m making historical past!” she says. “It doesn’t really feel actual. Earlier than my take a look at I used to be anxious, nervous and completely satisfied – every thing directly. I’m in shock – in my take a look at I used to be simply attempting to do my finest, and luxuriate in my horse, get pleasure from my trip and benefit from the venue. The Olympics is loopy.”

Crazier nonetheless is Justina’s 2,100km road-trip to Paris from Lithuania. She herself drove her Olympic trip Nabab to France within the van, taking a good friend along with her to behave as groom.

“Our journey took 4 days,” she says. “We first stopped at Poznan in Poland, the place Nabab rested for 10 hours. Then we went to a different steady in Aachen. He was then meant to remain in Jardy, however I hadn’t booked the field in time they usually didn’t have a spare one, so we stayed in Aachen for another day. We then left at midnight, drove by means of the night time, and arrived in Versailles at 6am.

“The primary day I used to be considering, ‘Oh, he have to be so drained, I’ll give him 4 days’ relaxation,” explains Justina, who attended the opening ceremony as certainly one of Lithuania’s flag-bearers. “However after I was lungeing him he was going spherical and spherical, snorting like a dragon. The following day he was leaping throughout me so I mentioned, ‘OK, you’re feeling fairly good, I’ll trip you’ – and he was a bit like a dragon. However I rode him all week with out spurs and in a snaffle bridle.”

Olympic dressage: Justina Vanagaite on impromptu bareback coaching session

Justina has constructed up a repute on social media for having a number of enjoyable along with her treasured horse, whom she nicknames Kebab. From certainly one of her closing coaching classes earlier than the Olympics, she posted a video of her doing pirouettes bareback in a headcollar.

“I used to be purported to be lungeing him, however afterwards I assumed possibly I’d simply get on and stroll, then I began to trot just a little bit – after which I assumed possibly we are able to do some actions and do a video,” she says.

“I’m a showgirl,” she provides. “However that doesn’t matter, I nonetheless get nervous. I’m simply completely satisfied I managed to carry it collectively in contrast with all of the riders with a lot extra expertise than me.”

Justina scored a creditable 69.20%, which places her mid-division of the 30 riders to compete on day one of many grand prix qualifier.

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Martha is an skilled journalist who’s mad-keen on canine of all sizes and shapes. After rising up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she loved 14 years with two rescue canine, one a avenue canine from Gambia who was deserted at three weeks previous. Now, her fixed companion, whether or not by her toes at her desk or strolling cross-country programs, is Fidget, a particularly energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on subjects as various as a high horse’s clone to the most effective GPS trackers for canine, in addition to equestrian and rural issues for Nation Life, The Discipline, The Occasions, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.