VERSAILLES, France: Annika Zillekens had done an 8km morning run and was about to go and see her family, a day after ending her career, when the call came telling the German she was in the Modern Pentathlon final.
August 11, 2024. Annika Zillekens of Germany riding Chinka's Domerguie in action on Aug 11, 2024.
Ten minutes later and the 34-year-old was on a horse, ready for 10 fences in front of a lively crowd of around 15,000 spectators at the Paris Games.That was already a big result for someone who had been heading for retirement after failing to qualify the regular way for the 18-woman final, and it was also some sort of personal redemption.
"My big goal was to show good horse riding," said Zillekens, who had a fault-ridden round in her semi-final on Saturday. "I just thought, like, OK, let's try to enjoy the last competition of the career. Because sometimes, as an athlete, you forget to enjoy, because you are in your tunnel."
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