One moment can change it all, and Charlotte Dujardin, a dazzling star in the world of dressage, is facing that harsh reality. Known for her incredible skill and grace, Dujardin has racked up three Olympic gold medals, cementing her place as one of the greatest dressage riders of her time. But just days before the Paris Olympics, and a medal away from becoming Great Britain’s most decorated female Olympian, this beloved equestrian figure finds herself in hot water.

Charlotte Dujardin has been banned from the Paris Olympics over serious allegations. The suspension follows a video that surfaced showing her allegedly whipping a horse over 24 times in a single minute during a coaching session years ago. In light of the incident, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) has issued her a six-month suspension, and she pulled out of the Games just days before the opening ceremony.

In her statement, Dujardin didn’t go into specifics about the video but expressed deep remorse. She said, “What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils, however there is no excuse. I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment.” She also pledged full cooperation with the FEI and the British Equestrian Federation but added that she wouldn’t comment further until the process was complete. But this news hasn’t gone down well with fans.

On a Reddit discussion on the subreddit r/Equestrian, one fan wrote, “Sigh. Charlotte always seemed like such a soft and consistent rider, I really thought she was one of the good ones and moving dressage forward. I want to withhold judgement but this seems pretty telling.” This is because Dujardin’s track record is impressive: two gold medals in individual and team dressage at the 2012 London Olympics, a silver and a gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and two bronze medals from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Charlotte Dujardin and her horse Valegro made their Olympic debut in 2012, smashing it right out of the gate with a score of 83.784% in the first round, setting a new Olympic record. The dynamic duo struck gold twice more at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Fast forward to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Dujardin teamed up with another horse, Gio, and they bagged two bronze medals. This led one fan to comment, “Valegro was a once in a lifetime horse. She looked amazing on him. Most of her other mounts look tense and tight in the neck. I loved what she did with Valegro but this is not that surprising to me.” 

Another equestrian enthusiast and competitor chimed in, “Everyone has bad days. However, if you have a video of yourself doing something bad enough to withdraw from the Olympics, my gut feeling is that it’s probably not an isolated incident. High level competitiveness can bring out the worst in people. It’s one reason I got out of competing.” This comment takes fans back to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, when German coach Kim Raisner was disqualified for urging athlete Annika Schleu to “really hit” her horse, who appeared to punch it during the showjumping round. Among the backlash, some fans even questioned why the video wasn’t released four years ago, when the incident occurred.

One person wrote, “Feels like someone held onto the video from 4 years ago for maximum impact… Wonder who will benefit most from a disruption to team GB and what I assume is a medal prospect…” as Dujardin needed a medal of any color to become the most decorated British female Olympian, surpassing retired cyclist Dame Laura Kenny. Reflecting on this comment, it’s important to note what happened.

Who revealed the issue that ended equestrian star Charlotte Dujardin’s chance at the Paris Olympics?

The video was brought to light by a 19-year-old rider who was at a training session at Charlotte Dujardin’s private stable. Stephan Wensing, the Dutch lawyer representing the 19-year-old who filed the complaint, shared that Dujardin was in the middle of the arena, telling the student to get their horse to lift its legs more in the canter. Then she took a long whip and hit the horse more than 24 times in a minute, which he likened to how an elephant might be treated in a circus. At the time, Wensing’s client thought this was normal because Dujardin is an Olympic winner, and who were they to doubt her methods?

They shared that they asked around but were warned against speaking out in the UK. But last year, after seeing others get suspended in the UK and elsewhere, the rider decided to report the incident. The FEI took the complaint seriously and acted quickly. So, what’s next for the Great Britain equestrian team without Charlotte Dujardin? The news hit Team GB hard, catching senior officials completely off guard. Dujardin was a top contender for medals in both individual and team events with Carl Hester and world champ Lottie Fry, riding her new horse, Imhotep.

Now, reserve rider Becky Moody will step in with her horse Jägerbomb, joining Carl Hester and Charlotte Fry. A spokesperson from the British Olympic Association confirmed Dujardin’s withdrawal from the Paris 2024 Olympics, emphasizing how seriously she’s taking the situation. They’ll be applying to bring in a reserve athlete under the IOC’s Late Athlete Replacement Rules. As the dust settles and the Olympic torch prepares to light up Paris, the equestrian world is left grappling with a tough question: Can one moment of poor judgment overshadow a lifetime of achievements? Share your thoughts in the comments below!