Gilles and Ermitage Kalone are ready for their first Olympic Games

In the shadow of the Brussels Stephex Masters, taking place at the end of August, the Belgian Equestrian Federation, hosted the team presentation featuring the showjumping riders who will represent Belgium at the Olympics in Paris.  Gilles Thomas and Ermitage Kalone are part of the Belgian team. Frederik De Backer hosted the press conference and spoke to Gilles and owner Joris Van Dijck. Gilles indicated that he is ambitious but realistic for his first Olympics and that he is particularly grateful that Joris did not sell the stallion at the time when Ermitage Kalone was very much in demand.

Ermitage Kalone, like the three other horses of the Belgian show jumping team, is in top form, they were extensively screened again last week. Gilles will take part in the opening ceremony on Friday, after which he will come home for a few days, before leaving for Paris (Versailles) on Tuesday 30 July. By the way, the Belgian riders are staying in the same hotel as the Belgian cyclists. There probably won't be much time to watch other sports, but Gilles does hope to catch the final of the road race on Saturday and then he will be cheering on Remco, Wout, Tiesj and Jasper. #teambelgium

75 participants - 20 teams

1 August Team qualification

2 August Team final for best 10 teams

5 August Individual qualification

6 August Individual final