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Julia KRAJEWSKI

Julia KRAJEWSKI, German Jumping, Eventing athlete.
Name Julia KRAJEWSKI
FEI ID 10004598
Gender Female
Date of Birth 22/10/1988
Competing for Germany - GER
Registrations Eventing 2024
Jumping 2022
Last update 07/06/2023
FEI Database




Eventing 70x70 Jumping 70x70
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport? She first rode a Shetland pony at age three on a farm near Luhmuhlen, Germany. At age five her parents bought an old farmhouse and set up a small stud farm. She began eventing on ponies at age eight, and made the switch to horses at age 14.
Club / Team RFV Lingen: Germany
Name of coach Peter Thomsen [national], GER
Training Regime When not riding, she incorporates Freeletics, CrossFit, and weight training into her training schedule. She works out two or three times a week in the winter and once or twice a week during the summer.
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievement Winning gold in the individual competition at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (Instagram profile, 22 Aug 2021; insidethegames.biz, 02 Aug 2021)
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs She has a bracelet with the name of her horse, Samourai du Thot, on it. (nsbits.com, 14 May 2019)
Sporting philosophy / motto "If you can dream it, you can do it." (Instagram profile, 31 Jan 2023) "The trick is to get up one more time than you are knocked over." [Winston Churchill] (julia-krajewski.de, 21 Oct 2021)
Awards and honours She was presented with the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt [Silver Laurel Leaf] in 2021 and 2016. The honour is the highest sports award in Germany. (bundespraesident.de, 08 Nov 2021, 01 Nov 2016)
Famous relatives Her sisters Greta and Clara have competed in eventing at an elite level. (pferd-aktuell.de, 17 Aug 2011)
Other information HORSE CHANGE, OLYMPIC GOLD In early 2021 she contemplated missing out on the rescheduled Olympic Games in Tokyo after she had to retire her horse Samourai du Thot due to an eye infection. She decided to replace her horse with Amande de B'Neville [Mandy] in the lead-up to Tokyo, and the new pairing went on to win gold in individual eventing at the Games. "When it's difficult I take my strength from working with the horses. Sitting here with the gold medal wasn't anything in my wildest dreams. I'm super proud of my horse [Mandy]. I'm relieved and happy that I made it happen. I'm very thankful to everyone who's been with me all the way. For some time I thought the Olympics would happen without me – and that was fine. Then going to Saumur [before Tokyo] and winning there, and feeling that Mandy really stepped up a level and could deliver something big, I thought, 'Maybe I've got a little chance of going'." (Instagram profile, 22 Aug 2021; insidethegames.biz, 02 Aug 2021; useventing.com, 02 Aug 2021) OTHER ACTIVITIES She has worked as a national coach in junior eventing, and is also a fully qualified groom. "I always said I never wanted to be a professional rider because it's really hard to earn money, especially as an event rider, in Germany. There are only a very few who can do it and make a living from it, and normally they are not just riding, but also selling and training, so I am quite happy that it is a mix of coaching and riding." (pferd-aktuell.de, 07 Oct 2022; topspec.com, 23 Oct 2018; horsemagazine.com, 16 Nov 2017; deutsche-olympiamannschaft.de, 01 Jan 2016)
Milestones She became the first female rider to win a gold medal in individual eventing at the Olympic Games when she claimed victory at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. (fei.org, 09 Oct 2021; SportsDeskOnline, 31 Aug 2021)
Further Personal Information
Residence Warendorf, GER
Occupation Athlete, Businessperson, Coach, Horse Trainer
Languages English, German