With a sensational performance, Michael Jung, riding fischerChipmunk FRH, secured the gold medal in the individual competition at the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen and also led the German team to silver in the team event. The now 18-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Contendro/Heraldik xx, bred by ZG Meyer-Kulenkampff, Behlmer, impressively demonstrated that he is rightly regarded as a living legend of eventing. “He’s bursting with power! It’s been incredible all week. I have so much respect for this horse – a legend,” said a visibly moved Michael Jung enthusiastically in an interview after the ride. Despite his vast experience, the gelding still shows wonderful sensitivity and excitement before the tests, starts to sweat slightly straight away, but is then fully focused in the dressage arena, cross-country and on the show jumping course, and is a joy to ride
The pair had already taken the lead in the dressage with an outstanding score of 23.0 penalty points in a top-class field. On Saturday’s demanding cross-country course, the pair left no room for doubt, galloping to the finish in the fastest time without a single fault. On the final day, Sunday, the gelding demonstrated his true class in front of a home crowd: with an absolutely faultless round on the show jumping course, Michael Jung and his championship partner sealed the deal, concluding the World Championships with their dressage score of exactly 23.0 penalty points.
The battle for the remaining podium places remained nail-biting right until the end. Silver went to Britain’s Rosalind Canter on Lordships Graffalo, who achieved a final score of 23.4 points following clear rounds in both cross-country and show jumping. Bronze was secured by her team-mate Laura Collett on London 52 with 28.0 points.