Kate Kyros has become the first Australian Young Rider to be invited to compete in the prestigious World Equestrian Festival at Aachen in Germany.
The 19-year-old made a stunning debut on the European stage at the weekend when she won the U25 Grand Prix Freestyle event and earned another five podium finishes at the Olomouc CDI (internationally ranked dressage event) in the Czech Republic.
She scored 70.48 per cent aboard 12-yer-old Chemistry to claim victory on a third continent having already won events in Australia and North America.
The Bond University Law and Business double major earned the invitation to the Aachen CHIO (Concours Hippique International Officiel), after rocketing into the top ten in the FEI (Fédération Equestre Internationale) world rankings following a dominant four months in Florida where she never missed the podium in 33 appearances.
Across the six CDIs she guided stallions Intro K and Chemistry to 25 wins, five seconds and was third three times.
It included a gold medal at the Nations Cup with Chemistry in the U25 Grand Prix. The family are awaiting confirmation that she is the first Australian to win a gold medal in a dressage Nations Cup.
The 2023 Bond University Sports Person of the Year is now ranked 7th in the World for U25 Grand Prix and 8th in the World for Young Rider U21.
“The results in Florida opened many doors for us to head to Europe to continue our overseas campaign,” she said.
“In Europe, attending many of the competitions is by invitation based on scores and world rankings so our goal is to continue to train and improve in hopes of attending some of the largest shows in the world.
“I am super-excited to have received an invitation as the first ever Australian Young Rider to be invited to compete at the World Equestrian festival in the CHIO Aachen in their young rider competition.
“This class invites the top 12 best young riders in the world with six of those spots reserved for German riders leaving only six spots for the rest of the world.
“It’s completely surreal to have the opportunity to represent Australia on the world stage.
“I am so grateful for my team that supports me including my mum and of course the best teammates I could ask for in Intro K and Chemistry.”