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The U.S. Olympic Jumping Team — with a last-minute assist from a Woodside native — finished on the podium in Friday’s Olympic Jumping Team Final. Karl Cook didn’t expect to compete, but he was among the three U.S. riders when they accepted their silver medal at Versailles, France on Aug. 2.
Cook, who now lives in Southern California but grew up in Woodside, was an alternate — the fourth rider on a team that sends only three into the ring. That is until hours before the Aug. 1 Olympic qualifier. That is when US Equestrian’s Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland informed him that he and his horse Caracole de la Roque would be replacing Kent Farrington and his horse Greya.
“There is a small question mark with Greya, which is allergy related, and erring on the side of extreme caution and with the no drop score in the format, we have made the decision to bring in Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque,” Ridland said in a statement before the qualifying event.
The U.S. team qualified for Friday’s final and finished second to Great Britain in a title event. It was the team’s ninth Olympic medal and third consecutive silver since 2016. The team finished on a total of four faults between the three team combinations.
“From the moment we notified Karl, he was honored and excited to be on this team,” Ridland said in a release following the final. “The first thing he did when we talked about (it), he says, ‘I’m here to do whatever I need to do to help the other three, to do whatever I need to do to support.’
“Well guess what he did?” said Ridland. “Because that is one of the hardest things to do — to get a last-minute, two hours before the event (call), and say, ‘Oh, can you bring your white breeches? You’re on.’ And then duplicate it the next day. Hats off to Karl — truly.”
Cook’s horse, Caracole de la Roque, is a 2012 Selle Français mare owned by Woodside resident Signe Ostby and cared for by Tessa Falanga.
“This course requires you to ride on the track that suits the stride you have and the horse you have,” said Cook through US Equestrian. “So, if you hit that track then things are so much easier. It was just really focusing on the track, the stride and all that, and I’m just so grateful for Caracole. She’s such an amazing horse. She’s stuck with me the whole time, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Congratulations to the jumping team, including Carl, Caracole, Signe, and Tessa. I’ve been loving these Olympics.