(born 26 August 1963 ) is an internationally successful German rider who competes in Show Jumping , and has been ranked the No. 1 Show Jumper in the world by the FEI on multiple occasions.
Beerbaum was born in Detmold , Germany . In school he took Business Studies, but eventually gave it up for a career in show jumping.
Beerbaum began riding on a Highland Pony at the age of 8. He had a very successful career as a Junior and Young Rider, which continued into his adulthood. His most notable accomplishments include winning 4 Olympic Golds (his first at age 25) and numerous European and World Championship medals.
Ludger Beerbaum is the oldest of 4 children, his siblings being Ruth, Monika, and show jumper .
- Goldfever: 1991 chestnut Hanoverian stallion (by Grosso Z)
- Ratina Z : 1982 bay Hanoverian mare (Ramiro Z x Almé Z)
- Gladdys S: 1992 chestnut Westphalian mare (Grandeur x Apart)
- PS Priamos: 1982 chestnut Westphalian gelding (Pilot x Direx)
- Enorm: 1997 bay Hanoverian gelding (Escudo I x Calypso II)
- Couleur Rubin: 1996 chestnut Oldenburg stallion (by Cordalme Z)
- L'Espoir: 1996 chestnut Zangersheider gelding (by Landwind II)
- All Inclusive: 1999 bay Westphalian gelding (Arpeggio x Phantom)
At the 2004 Olympic Games , Beerbaum and his mount, Goldfever, managed to finish with only 4 penalty points, earning them both the team and individual gold medals. However, following the competition, Goldfever tested positive for the prohibited substance Betamethasone . The International Equestrian Federation found Beerbaum guilty of breaking the rules, stripping both him and his German team of their medals, dropping Germany down to bronze. Beerbaum believed the substance to have been present in an ointment administered to the horse due to a skin irritation, and the FEI agreed that the substance provided no competitive advantage. However, in accordance to the rule, Beerbaum was disqualified.
- Team Gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games : 17.25 penalities (The Freak)
- Individual Gold medal at the 1992 Olympic Games: 0 penalities (Classic Touch)
- Team Gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games: 1.75 penalities (Ratina Z)
- Team Gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games: 15 penalities (Goldfever)
- Disqualified, losing team and individual gold medals at the 2004 Olympic Games—''See "Doping Offense" above'' (Goldfever)
- Bronze medal team, individually 5th place at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany (L'Espoir)
- 4th place team, 22nd individually at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez De La Frontera, Spain (Gladdys S)
- Gold medal team, 5th individually at the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Rome, Italy (Priamos)
- Gold medal team, 4th individually at the 1994 World Equestrian Games in The Hague, Netherlands (Ratina Z)
- Silver medal team, 73rd individually at the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden (Gazelle)
- Team Silver, Individual Bronze at the 2007 CH-EU in Mannheim , Germany (Goldfever 3)
- Team Gold, Individual Silver at the 2003 CH-EU in Donaueschingen , Germany (Goldfever 3)
- Team Bronze, Individual Gold at the 2001 CH-EU in Arnhem , Netherlands (Gladdys S)
- Team Gold, Individually 26th at the 1999 CH-EU in Hickstead , Britain (Champion du Lys)
- Team Gold, Individual Gold at the 1997 CH-EU in Mannheim , Britain (Ratina Z)
- Team 4th, Individually 29th at the 1993 CH-EU in Gijon , Spain (Rush On)
- Team 5th, Individually 21st at the 1991 CH-EU in La Baule , France (Grand Plaisir)
- Team 5th, Individually 23rd at the 1987 CH-EU in St. Gallen , Switzerland (Wiener Domspatz)
- Team Bronze, Individual Bronze at the 1984 CH-EU-Y in Cervia , Italy (Wittersfernde)
- Multiple No. 1 Show Jumper ranking by the FEI
- 8-time winner of the German masters (1988, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004)
- 3-time Rider of the Year (2001, 2002, 2003)
- 3-time winner of the Grand Prix of Aachen (1996 Ratina Z; 2002 and 2003 Goldfever)
- Winner of the Bambi Prize in 1992
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