Tokyo Olympics 2021: Animal cruelty debate erupts over confronting scenes

A German coach who punched a horse as an athlete whipped and kicked it has been thrown out of the Tokyo Olympics.

CHOFU, JAPAN - AUGUST 06: Annika Schleu of Team Germany looks dejected following her run in the Riding Show Jumping of the Women's Modern Pentathlon on day fourteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Stadium on August 06, 2021 in Chofu, Japan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

A German modern pentathlon coach has been thrown out of the Tokyo Olympics for cruelty to a horse.

Kim Raisner, the coach of German Annika Schleu, has been stripped of her Olympic accreditation for striking the horse allocated to Schleu called Saint Boy.

The world modern pentathlon authority, UIPM said in a statement: “The UIPM Executive Board has given a black card to the Germany team coach Kim Raisner, disqualifying her from the remainder of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The executive board reviewed video footage that showed Ms Raisner appearing to strike the horse Saint Boy, ridden by Annika Schleu, with her fist during the riding discipline of the women’s modern pentathlon competition.”

Schleu, 31, had gone into the show jumping leg of the event in first place but her chances of a medal swiftly evaporated, when Saint Boy wouldn’t jump.

An issue was first apparent when coverage appeared to show Schleu in floods of tears before the ride had even started.

She desperately tried to get her horse to co-operate.

Eventually she managed to get Saint Boy to enter the arena.

It was distressing to watch the entire performance

The horse did clear four sets of hurdles when the ride finally got going.

But after colliding with the fifth, Saint Boy had evidently had enough.

Tearful Schleu had another go at getting around the course, but Saint Boy again refused and became visibly more distressed.

Where things took a turn was the overuse of her whip, incessant kicking and tightening of the reins causing the animal to appear even more panicked.

Her coach could be heard screaming “kick it more” from the sideline before vision showed her punching the animal on the hind leg.

Former Olympic silver medallist Sam Murray said the issue was all down to rider error.

“When she got on the horse she was stressed and that transcends into the horse, the horse cant see you they can only feel you,” Murray told the BBC.

Disturbed to see Annika Schleu whipping the living daylights out of her horse. I don’t ride so maybe I’ve misread things and it wasn’t as cruel as it looked. Disappointing for the German but I was hoping the horse would unseat her to teach her a lesson. Uncomfortable viewing.

— Di (@DiCompton) August 6, 2021

Annika Schleu became so frustrated and upset… UNDERSTANDABLY… but then what? She hits the horse more?? Neither horse nor athlete should be put through this event. Bin it.

— Klaudia (@klaudia_kp) August 6, 2021

#olympicz2020 Annika Schleu the most difficult, upsetting thing I’ve ever seen at this or any other Olympics. If the horse doesn’t want it then stop…stop….stop. Cruel Arrogance at the pentathlon.

— banffbutterfly (@nikkihoughton) August 6, 2021

Annika Schleu deserved to lose IMO. If she can't calm down & focus on the horse's mood, and ride him the way he needs to be ridden, then she isn't Gold Medal material.
Poor Saint Boy didn't deserve to be whipped and punched like that. #ModernPentathlon#annikaschleu

— En See Kay (@NatKhach) August 6, 2021

Painful and distressing to watch Annika Schleu being allowed to dig her spurs in, yank on the horses mouth and crack it with the whip repeatedly. You should have dismounted, he very clearly didn't want to jump. Shame on you and shame on #pentathlon#TokyoOlympicspic.twitter.com/euC5w4PLMU

— Lydia (@LydiaAllday) August 6, 2021

Disgusting behaviour by a so called athlete Annika Schleu. The horse was obviously very uncomfortable about going forward and she just put more fear into him. She should be disqualified for hitting the shit out of him whilst having her tantrum 😡

— Karen Long (@karenloveslola) August 6, 2021

The coach was seen yelling and punching the horse

Annika Schleu was reduced to tears. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

“You have to be decisive. In the moments she was crying, she should have let her reins loose and given the horse positivity and encouragement.

“When she came to a jump correctly the horse jumped, but the horse was losing confidence all through that round.”

After narrowly missing out on a medal in Rio, coming fourth, Schleu’s event ended in devastation.

After the event, the president of Modern Pentathlon’s governing body President Dr Klaus Schormann dismissed athlete complaints.

“I must say to those who do not know our sport so well, the presentation of the facility and the horses were of a high quality,” Schormann said.

“Maybe there were a few moments that you would say were not so nice but I tell you – the horses are absolutely excellent.

“We tested them and they were well prepared, and there is no basis for athletes to complain.

“It is only because of the athletes themselves if they were not successful in some parts of the competition.

“Nobody from the organising committee should be blamed. Everything was genius, was super, and I’m very happy with Secretary General Shiny Fang in what we have achieved together with the organising committee.”

The incident has divided fans online.

While there has been plenty of sympathy for Schleu, some have also admitted that they feel for Saint Boy.

@Olympics can you please make sure, that Saint Boy is in good hands and gets an opportunity to recover? I think I‘m not alone fearing for the horses wellbeing also in future. A current statement would be very much appreciated #Schleu#Saintboy

— 𝕂𝔼𝕊 ℂ𝕆𝕊ℙ𝕃𝔸𝕐 @ home where else? (@Kes_Cosplay) August 6, 2021

Annika Schleu should have dismounted instead. End of discussion#ModernPentathlon

— Anna⁷ (misses bts) (@AnnaLena______) August 6, 2021

Annika Schleu's riding round on Saint Boy in #ModernPentathlon is one of the most difficult things I've watching in the #Olympics ever. Poor women and poor horse. 😢💔

— MissPagetEnglish (@MissPaget) August 6, 2021

IMO after the #Olympics there needs to be a serious discussion about culture and coaches´ behavior, all of this doesn´t just happen in the heat of the moment on the big stage, it happens in training and behind closed doors way more often. #Schleu#TeamDeutschland 3

— Elisabeth Oehler (@eo_performance) August 6, 2021

Hindsight is what it is, but as soon as the horse refused to even enter the arena - clearly associating it with earlier trauma - Schleu should have dismounted and lodged a protest. The rules were taken to the extreme here, creating a situation that was never going to end well.

— Rick Joshua 🔴 (@fussballchef) August 6, 2021

Hard watch the spooked horse on the pentathlon show jumping, Annika Schleu hysterical cos her gold medal riding on it, even her coach punched the horse. Horses flown in from all over the world, drawn for random riders and disrespected cos medals come first.😔 #olympichorsewelfare

— Moon Faerie (@silentenygma) August 6, 2021