There’s been a major announcement on the airwaves ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, which will see the equestrian disciplines unfold at the stunning Palace of Versailles. Pierre le Goupil, best known for designing and building tracks at Le Grand Complet at Haras du Pin, will take on the coveted role of course designer at the Games – and that’s been an announcement that’s left more than a few fans of the sport puzzling over where they might have come across this prolific designer.
The former Olympian has designed in a number of developing eventing nations, including Brazil, Bulgaria, Belarus, China, Hungary, India, Japan, Russia and Chile, and he’s also been appointed the role of designer at the 2023 Pan-American Games and European Championships, which will be a brilliant opportunity for all of us to get a better idea of the kind of track he likes to build.
But for those of us who aren’t quite so patient, rejoice: the Nations Cup at Le Grand Complet has been filmed in its entirety by FEI TV/Clip My Horse, and I spent this evening rewatching it with beady eyes to try to get a sense of the man who’ll be at the forefront of everyone’s minds in a couple of short years. Rewind to 2019 (would that we could!) and enjoy wall-to-wall le Goupil action from the heart of Normandy – you can thank us when you’re collecting your medals.
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