the first year / DA S ER STE JAHR / LA PREMIÈRE ANNÉE Rolex grand slam magazine ultimate equestrian challenge, bringing the sport to a whole new level. There was a unanimous desire to offer an initiative comparable to the Grand Slam tournaments in tennis or the Majors in golf, at which only the very best horse-and-rider partnerships would have the opportunity to become show jumping legends overnight. What distinguishes these three shows, why was it precisely these shows that initiated the Rolex Grand Slam? These three shows – considered the Majors of the sport – simply represent the absolute pinnacle of show jumping. Rolex Testimonee and champion show jumper Eric Lamaze explained it best when he said: “There are many great events on the show jumping calendar, but the three Grand Prix that comprise the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping are without doubt the ones which the riders all want to win during their careers. Winning even one leg of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is an incredible and careerchanging achievement; to win all three in a row would create a legend of the sport overnight.” You were a successful tennis player. What significance does a Grand Slam have for the athletes? I think it’s safe to say that winning a Grand Slam in any discipline is any professional athlete’s dream and one of the ultimate accomplishments that exist in the sporting world. Rolex has been committed to the equestrian sport for over 50 years. What makes the equestrian sport so fascinating in your opinion? Equestrianism is unique in the sense that it is one of the rare sports in which men and women compete on an equal playing field. And on top of that, there is the added element of achieving perfect synergy between rider and horse. In order to succeed, the two have to work closely together, and the rider has to be very aware, not only of the horse’s capabilities on the course, but also of the animal’s physical and mental state. There is a unique bond that forms between the two that could almost be compared to parent and child, but goes beyond that to teamwork, mutual respect and understanding. It’s about sheer skill and a special touch. In addition to the equestrian ability required to succeed, as well as the ever-present elegance and prestige, it is this unique relationship between each equestrian pair that contributes to the overall fascination of this sport. Das erste Jahr INTERVIEW MIT ARNAUD BOET SCH D er Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping ist einzigartig. Die Kombination der renommierten Turniere von Aachen, Spruce Meadows und Genf macht ihn zur ultimativen Herausforderung für jeden Springreiter. Wer als erster beim Rolex Grand Prix bei allen drei Veranstaltungen innerhalb von zwölf Monaten triumphiert, geht in die Annalen des Pferdesports ein und gilt als lebende Legende. Wir sprachen mit Arnaud Boetsch, Direktor Communication & Image, Rolex, über das erste Jahr des Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. Ein Jahr Rolex Grand Slam – wie lautet Ihr vorläufiges Fazit? Der Rolex Grand Slam ist ein überwältigender Erfolg und hat die Messlatte für diese Sportart sehr hoch gelegt. Wir freuen uns sehr, Teil einer so bedeutenden Initiative zu sein, die Pferd und Reiter gleichermaßen die Möglichkeit bietet, ihr Können bei diesem Top-Event im Springreiten unter Beweis zu stellen. Wie ist das Echo seitens der Zuschauer, der Sportler und der Medien? Schon als die Pläne für den Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping bekannt wurden, erreichten uns überaus positive Reaktionen von allen Seiten, sowohl von den Zuschauern als auch von den Sportlern und den 12
Rolex Grand Slam magazine - Number 2
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