Emma Kanerva got to experience the fulfillment of her dreams in Paris: “A really great experience”

Dressage rider Emma Kanerva still basking in the joyful atmosphere of the Paris Olympics. Kanerva rode in the team competition Henri Ruosteen and by Joanna Robinson with eighth and in the individual final competition 12th.

Being without a medal shakes Finnish top sports, but the Olympic riders enjoy their achievements, and the successes increase their hunger for success for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

– Paris was the highlight of my career so far. I didn’t think in advance that everything would go so smoothly and beautifully. It was a really great experience professionally and also emotionally, Kanerva said on Saturday before the Helsinki Horse Show fan meeting.

– I am proud and happy when one goal has been achieved, but little by little we have to look towards the next Olympics. Hopefully the trip to the Los Angeles Games will be as successful as Paris.

of Paris successes Kanerva achieved with the 13-year-old gelding Greek Air. The horse is old enough that he cannot build his plans for the next Olympics only on it.

– Greek Air was probably in the best shape of its life at the Olympics. It took the whole trip really well and recovered quickly, but at the Los Angeles Games it would already be 17 years old. Age does not rule it out, but there must be a backup plan for that, Kanerva stated.

– I haven’t thought about what that horse could be yet, but there must be a few younger horses in the run. I have to start raising younger horses towards the Grand Prix level and see how much potential they have.

Heather has built his career as a professional rider for 18 years abroad. My sister’s daughter reminds me of starting out as an odometer.

– I left shortly after my sister’s daughter was born, and she just turned 18, Kanerva laughed at the passage of time.

Kanerva already reached the Olympic level in London 2012, when she rode Sini Spirit to 22nd place. That too felt like a memorable experience. He built on his success in Paris with Greek Air, which he raised, for the last six and a half years at Reitstall Haddorf, Germany’s Stade.

In the future, Kanerva can seek reassurance precisely from her experiences in Paris, when her competitive career culminated in a record score of 81.607 in the individual final.

– The last track was the best, when I was more relaxed on it. I had already achieved so much. I trusted that the horse is in good condition and everything works. I thought let’s just go and enjoy, Kanerva came back last summer.

– The horse sensed it. It also felt that everything is fine. It was fully involved and enjoyed the arena. It seemed to really like it.

The experience was not dampened at all by the fact that the Olympic and sports leadership has been lamenting the historic lack of medals since the Games.

– It’s sad for the people in question, but in a way I don’t connect it to my own performance. I enjoy what we achieved and I won’t let anything take it away, Kanerva assured.