After a forced two-year break, the Stuttgart German Masters will take place again for the first time on Wednesday. One of the top stars at the international horse show is the Swiss show jumper Martin Fuchs.
When the German Masters last took place in November 2019, Martin Fuchs had every reason to smile. In the saddle of “Tam Tam du Valon”, the Swiss rider won the German Master’s test on Friday evening – one of the highlights at the international horse show in Stuttgart’s Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle. In the past two years, the corona pandemic has forced the organizers to cancel, and now the tournament is taking place again for the first time.
“The anticipation is huge. Stuttgart is a dream tournament. The atmosphere and mood are really incredible,” enthuses Martin Fuchs in an interview with SWR Sport. Around 170 riders from 25 nations compete in show jumping, dressage, driving and eventing in Stuttgart – the Swiss chestnut is one of them. For the 30-year-old it is about important points for qualifying for the World Cup final in April.
Heart horse “Clooney” after an accident pensioner in France
Martin Fuchs has already achieved a lot at the age of 30, mainly thanks to his gray gelding “Clooney”. “We grew up together. When he came to me, I wasn’t that successful and not yet established at the level,” says Fuchs. Together, the two won the silver medal at the 2018 World Championships. A year later, they won the European Championships – a successful partnership that took a tragic turn in 2021 after the Tokyo Olympics.
“Clooney” fell at home in the pasture and was seriously injured. He fought to survive in the Zurich veterinary clinic – a difficult time for Martin Fuchs too. In the meantime, “Clooney” no longer lives in his home stable in Switzerland, but in France with Fuchs’ father’s cousin. “They have better weather in Normandy,” he says. “He always comes to very large meadows and he is also ridden in the sea several times a week, so he goes into the water too. It’s very nice to see that he’s doing really well.”
The Fuchs family – a show jumping dynasty from Switzerland
Horses have always been part of Martin Fuchs’ life. He comes from a successful family of riders and got his first pony at the age of seven. Father Thomas won team gold three times at the European Championships and now coaches the Swiss team as national coach. Mother Renata was once a Swiss champion and grandpa Mathias was one of the most successful Swiss horse dealers during his lifetime. Martin Fuchs is also the nephew of Markus Fuchs, the former world number one, who won Olympic silver with the team in Athens in 2000.
“It’s really nice for me to have my family involved in sport. It’s a great support for me because everyone has my back,” says Martin Fuchs.
So it somehow fits into the picture that girlfriend Paris Sellon is also a show jumper. “We try to adapt our tournament plans to each other so we can support each other,” says Fuchs. But starting a tournament together is sometimes nerve-racking for the second in the world rankings: “I’m more nervous when Paris is in the course than when I’m riding myself. I don’t have it in my hands anymore and can’t do anything but keep my fingers crossed .”
Fuchs dreams of winning the Grand Prix of Stuttgart
In Stuttgart, Paris Sellon is once again not only Martin Fuchs’ partner, but also his competitor. The second in the world rankings brings his top horses “Connor Jei” and “The Sinner” to the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle and has a clear goal: “Of course it would be a dream to be able to win the World Cup here in Stuttgart .” Incidentally, he puts the pressure on himself to succeed. “It doesn’t really come from my parents,” admits the ambitious Swiss with a mischievous smile.
TV tip: The Stuttgart Grand Prix live on SWR television
At the end of the 36th Stuttgart German Masters, the show jumpers compete for victory in the Grand Prix of Stuttgart. The World Cup competition can be seen on Sunday from 3:45 p.m. on SWR television and on Live stream on swr.de/sport.
After strenuous tournament weekends, he also needs a break, despite all his ambition. “I have a very nice home with a nice sauna and wellness area,” says Fuchs. There he can best take time for himself, read a book and go for a walk in nature. “It helps to recharge your batteries and go into the next tournament fresh.”
