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Why was Jessica Springsteen not selected for Paris Olympics 2024? Exploring the potential reasons behind her absence from the squad
Jessica Springsteen, musician Bruce Springsteen's daughter and equestrian star, did not make the cut for the three-member US Show Jumping team for the Paris Olympics 2024 following a significantly lower ranking compared to other athletes. The three selected athletes are ranked under 40 internationally while Springsteen is out of the first 100 places.
Springsteen was part of the USA's silver-winning Jumping team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It was her first international competition back then and was ranked 14th in 2021.
The 32-year-old was earlier named in the 10-member shortlist for the Paris Olympics 2024 in April. The U.S. Equestrian Federation had announced that the selected athletes would be 'chosen for continued observation'. But as the final team for the Games was announced on July 6, Jessica Springsteen’s name wasn't on the list.
However, it shouldn't be a shocker as Springsteen's ranking, according to the International Federation of Equestrian Sports, is 127th compared to 14th in 2021. The athletes selected are Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut, and McLain Ward, who are ranked 6th, 35th, and 15th respectively. Karl Cook, 23rd, was selected as an alternate.
While there are no specific criteria for the selection, rankings could be one of the major factors behind Springsteen's snub from the team. Nonetheless, the U.S. has a strong and experienced Show Jumping team in Farrington, Ward, and Kraut and they would hope to change the silver to gold in Paris.
Jessica Springsteen would have loved to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Jessica Springsteen has won many international competitions in her career but there's nothing like the Olympic Games. Though she was part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, it was largely affected by COVID, meaning athletes didn't have their families for support.
“Tokyo 2020 was such an incredible experience, but because of that year and all the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, you know, you couldn’t have your family and your friends there,” Springsteen told Harper's BAZAAR in May.
With this year's Games happening like the regular Summer Olympics, Springsteen was hoping to be a part of it.
“So I was like, oh my gosh, I would love to go to another Olympics and be able to share that with my family, who’ve been so supportive of my career for so many years," she added.
Jessica Springsteen started taking equestrian lessons at four years of age and has been in love with the sport ever since. She believes in developing a connection with horses, which helps them read what a person is thinking.
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