French equestrian team honours late rider in Olympic silver medal win

Tributes have been paid to French horse rider Thaïs Meheust - who died five years ago - after her horse won silver at the Olympic Games in Paris this week.

Karim Laghouag, Nicolas Touzaint and Stéphane Landois took home silver at the equestrian team eventing at the Château de Versailles on July 29. Mr Landois was riding Chaman Dumontceau, the horse that Ms Meheust was riding when she died.

The win has been dubbed an ‘homage’ to the late rider.

Ms Meheust was taking part in a cross-country obstacle race on September 7, 2019 when her horse fell and crushed her. She died at the scene, aged just 22. She had previously been considered one of France’s most promising professional riders, having medalled at European championships and many pony competitions.

She had always wanted to compete at the Olympic Games.'

When preparing for Paris, her friend Mr Landois decided to ride Ms Meheust’s former horse in homage.

“It was Thaïs’ goal to come here with this horse, so I am very proud to have taken things over, to have brought this horse to this level and to have made Thaïs shine a little,” said Mr Landois, who was taking part in his first Games, aged 30. 

“Everyone is thinking of her today when they see the horse, it's fantastic.”

The rider pointed to the sky after his event, and said: “I thought about her all weekend. I did all this for her, and this medal is also for her. There were three of us today.”

The official Olympic Games France X (Twitter) account included the message ‘Pour Thaïs (For Thaïs)’ in its post confirming the silver for Mr Laghouag, Mr Touzaint and Mr Landois.

 Parental pride

Ms Meheust’s parents had also followed Chaman Dumontceau's journey closely, and were in the audience when Mr Landois won on the horse.

“When he [Stéphane Landois] called us to tell us he had been selected, we thought it was our daughter's dream,” said Ms Meheust’s mother, Corinne Meheust, to Ouest France. “She wanted us to be there, it was her horse that she had chosen, she loved him, she loved Stéphane.”

Tributes for Thaïs

Tributes also poured in for the late rider on X (Twitter). 

Journalist Sasha Beckermann wrote: “It is impossible not to think of Thaïs Méheust, who died in 2019 on a cross-country course, when you see Chaman, the horse she was riding on the day of the accident, and Stéphane Landois, her friend, winning the silver.”

 Radio host Julien Courbet, who called Ms Meheust “his little sister at heart”, wrote: “You were there for those three days with your Chaman, who you knew would be a medal winner. You made Stéphane look so good. You are a star for eternity!”

Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, also congratulated the three French medallists, calling it a “great performance and the finest of tributes for Thaïs”.

France took silver - the ninth medal so far for the country - behind Great Britain, who took gold; while the Japanese team won bronze. The team eventing medals were presented by British royal and experienced rider Princess Anne.