Franke SloothaakOlympian

About Franke Sloothaak

Franke Sloothaak, born in 1958 in Heerenveen, the Netherlands, is a celebrated former German showjumping rider known for his substantial contributions to the sport across several decades. After moving to Germany and becoming a citizen in 1979, he trained under the famous Alwin Schockemöhle, sharpening his skills to become one of the world's leading showjumpers. Sloothaak represented Germany in four consecutive Olympic Games starting from Los Angeles 1984, achieving remarkable success with two team gold medals in 1988 and 1996, and a team bronze in 1984. His best individual Olympic performance was a seventh-place finish in 1988.

Throughout his illustrious career, Sloothaak competed in numerous prestigious competitions with a variety of talented horses. His accomplishments at the World Championships include both individual and team gold medals at the 1994 FEI World Equestrian Games in The Hague with San Patrignano Weihaiwej and a team gold and individual third place at the 1998 Rome event. In the European Championships, he won a team bronze in 1985 and an individual silver in 1991. Domestically, Sloothaak dominated the circuit with three gold, eight silver, and two bronze individual medals, and notable victories include winning the Grand Prix of Aachen in 1989 and the Deutsche Spring Derby in 2001.

Apart from his competitive achievements, Sloothaak has significantly influenced the showjumping world through coaching and training. After retiring from professional riding in 2011, Sloothaak shifted his focus to coaching, guiding top riders including Christian Ahlmann and Marco Kutscher. He also played a crucial role in horse breeding, contributing to the development of promising jumping horses.