Ludger Beerbaum
Beerbaum found his way into equestrian sports through the son of a riding instructor. He was talented and learned quickly. When he was fifteen, he was given the mare "Wetterende" as a gift. She became a successful horse with whom the young Beerbaum was able to celebrate numerous successes. Back in 1981, Beerbaum started at the German Championships in the juniors age group up to 18 years old. He came runner-up in this national competition and was able to celebrate his first major success in his young career. The following year he continued his performance: The nineteen-year-old became runner-up in the young riders, a class up to 21 years old.
In 1983, Beerbaum passed his high school diploma and then studied business administration at the University of Göttingen. After a short time, however, he dropped out of his studies to devote himself entirely to equestrian sports. In 1984 Beerbaum took part in the European Championships with the German national team. He rode in the Young Riders classification and finished third in both the team and individual competitions - on his successful mare "Wittereinde". A fantastic success for the young rider. From 1985, Beerbaum worked as a rider in the stables of Paul Schockemöhle, the three-time European show jumping champion, in Mühlen. His job was to ride sales and show horses or prepare them for competitions.
A very successful time began for Beerbaum in 1987, in which he celebrated his first international successes in 1988 with the team Olympic victory in Seoul and the German championship. In 1988 he separated from the former world-class rider Paul Schockemöhle. Beerbaum moved to Buchenloe in Bavaria. There he was able to establish a respected show jumping center, which became important as a counterpoint to Paul Schockemöhle's stable. In 1992 Beerbaum took part in the Summer Olympics in Barcelona with the mare "Classic Touch". There he immediately won the gold medal in the individual show jumping competition. After the Olympic Games the mare was sold to Ralf Schneider.
For this purpose, Alexander Moksel, Beerbaum's employer, bought the mare "Ratina Z". She had proven herself as runner-up at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Silver and gold medals with the team at the World Equestrian Games in 1990 in Stockholm and 1994 in The Hague as well as further German championships in 1992 and 1993 followed. What stood out was the first World Cup victory by a German, also in 1993. In 1995, Beerbaum moved back to the north of Germany with his wife and two children. They settled on their own property in Wiedenbek, Westphalia. In 1996, Beerbaum competed at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, where he won the gold medal in the team competition with "Ratina Z".
With the same horse he became double European champion in Mannheim in 1997. The following year he won the gold medal in the team competition at the World Championships in Rome with the horse "Priamos". In 1999, Beerbaum became European show jumping champion in the team competition with the horse "Champion du Lys". In 2000 he took part in the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where he won Olympic gold for the fourth time with the team and with "Goldfever". In 2001, the show jumper was able to maintain his previous level of performance and even improve. This year he won the title of German show jumping champion for the seventh time, which was a record number of national gold medals.
Beerbaum won the European Championships in Arnhem. He also won the first title of "Rider of the Year" in the newly created Goldzack "Riders Tour". He also won gold at the 2001 European Championships in the individual competition and bronze in the team competition. On June 22, 2003, the world number one won the Aachen Grand Prix. Beerbaum secured the coveted gold for the second time in a row at the CHIO Aachen, the world equestrian festival and most important equestrian tournament in the world. At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Beerbaum won the gold medal again with "Goldfever". However, after his horse's medical test results became known, he came under suspicion of doping.
Although the accusation was scientifically controversial, Beerbaum had to return his eighth gold medal in order to settle for Olympic bronze. At the World Equestrian Games in Aachen in 2006 he competed with the gelding "L''Espoir". He finished 5th overall. In July 2007 he took first place in the world rankings again after a long time. In August he played a key role in winning the team silver medal during the European Championships in Mannheim. He was also able to hold his own in the individual competition there and won the bronze medal behind his sister-in-law Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and the current world champion (from Aachen 2006), Jos Lansink. Won in September 2011. He won team gold with Gotha FRH at the European Championships in Madrid.
In 1983, Beerbaum passed his high school diploma and then studied business administration at the University of Göttingen. After a short time, however, he dropped out of his studies to devote himself entirely to equestrian sports. In 1984 Beerbaum took part in the European Championships with the German national team. He rode in the Young Riders classification and finished third in both the team and individual competitions - on his successful mare "Wittereinde". A fantastic success for the young rider. From 1985, Beerbaum worked as a rider in the stables of Paul Schockemöhle, the three-time European show jumping champion, in Mühlen. His job was to ride sales and show horses or prepare them for competitions.
A very successful time began for Beerbaum in 1987, in which he celebrated his first international successes in 1988 with the team Olympic victory in Seoul and the German championship. In 1988 he separated from the former world-class rider Paul Schockemöhle. Beerbaum moved to Buchenloe in Bavaria. There he was able to establish a respected show jumping center, which became important as a counterpoint to Paul Schockemöhle's stable. In 1992 Beerbaum took part in the Summer Olympics in Barcelona with the mare "Classic Touch". There he immediately won the gold medal in the individual show jumping competition. After the Olympic Games the mare was sold to Ralf Schneider.
For this purpose, Alexander Moksel, Beerbaum's employer, bought the mare "Ratina Z". She had proven herself as runner-up at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Silver and gold medals with the team at the World Equestrian Games in 1990 in Stockholm and 1994 in The Hague as well as further German championships in 1992 and 1993 followed. What stood out was the first World Cup victory by a German, also in 1993. In 1995, Beerbaum moved back to the north of Germany with his wife and two children. They settled on their own property in Wiedenbek, Westphalia. In 1996, Beerbaum competed at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, where he won the gold medal in the team competition with "Ratina Z".
With the same horse he became double European champion in Mannheim in 1997. The following year he won the gold medal in the team competition at the World Championships in Rome with the horse "Priamos". In 1999, Beerbaum became European show jumping champion in the team competition with the horse "Champion du Lys". In 2000 he took part in the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where he won Olympic gold for the fourth time with the team and with "Goldfever". In 2001, the show jumper was able to maintain his previous level of performance and even improve. This year he won the title of German show jumping champion for the seventh time, which was a record number of national gold medals.
Beerbaum won the European Championships in Arnhem. He also won the first title of "Rider of the Year" in the newly created Goldzack "Riders Tour". He also won gold at the 2001 European Championships in the individual competition and bronze in the team competition. On June 22, 2003, the world number one won the Aachen Grand Prix. Beerbaum secured the coveted gold for the second time in a row at the CHIO Aachen, the world equestrian festival and most important equestrian tournament in the world. At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Beerbaum won the gold medal again with "Goldfever". However, after his horse's medical test results became known, he came under suspicion of doping.
Although the accusation was scientifically controversial, Beerbaum had to return his eighth gold medal in order to settle for Olympic bronze. At the World Equestrian Games in Aachen in 2006 he competed with the gelding "L''Espoir". He finished 5th overall. In July 2007 he took first place in the world rankings again after a long time. In August he played a key role in winning the team silver medal during the European Championships in Mannheim. He was also able to hold his own in the individual competition there and won the bronze medal behind his sister-in-law Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and the current world champion (from Aachen 2006), Jos Lansink. Won in September 2011. He won team gold with Gotha FRH at the European Championships in Madrid.
