The Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA) has confirmed to the IOC that Annabelle Collins will not be competing for Bermuda in equestrian events at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Collins and her horse, Chuppy Checker, missed achieving the minimum eligibility qualifying score by just 0.4% in competition at Le Mans, France on June 17th, 2021. She had previously achieved requisite Olympic qualifying scores with her other horse, Joyero, but he suffered an injury post-qualification, and is currently recuperating. As Joyero will not be well enough to compete in Tokyo, Collins, in consultation with the Bermuda Equestrian Federation, has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics.
Brenda Dale, BOA Vice President and Chef de Mission for the Tokyo Olympics, said, “We share Collins’ disappointment at not being able to compete in Tokyo, but we are supportive and understanding of her decision. We admire her dedication, commitment and resilience in facing the many challenges along the way to Tokyo.”
“We know how hard Collins has worked to qualify for the Games, and in doing so, she has already done us proud. The grace she has shown in the face of this most difficult result, is truly inspirational. She has been an outstanding representative for Bermuda on the world equestrian stage, and we look forward to continuing to support her and her team in future competitions as she works to qualify for Paris 2024.”
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