Will Coleman will be riding his back-up mount, Diabolo, rather than the more experienced Off the Record with the U.S. eventing team in the Olympics, where competition begins Saturday. No reason was given for the substitution announced Wednesday.
Will Coleman and Diabolo. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Diabolo was a direct reserve for Will, who will ride on the team with Boyd Martin and Caroline Pamukcu. Diabolo was impressive in the Cosequin 4-star at the Kentucky Horse Park in April, when he was the winner. Although he was sixth in dressage, Diabolo was the only double-clear on cross-country and finished double clear in the show jumping as well.
This was one of several substitutions before the Games get under way. Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz are out for Germany, replaced by the first woman to win individual Olympic gold, Julia Krajewski, on her Aachen winner Nickel. Bertram Allen is out as Ireland’s alternate following injury to Pacino Amiro, and Denis Lynch with Brooklyn Heights is in. Ingrid Klimke will miss her fifth Olympics after injury to Franziskus, but like Bertram, she was an alternate. Sönke Rothenberger and Fendi are replacing her.