Nothing can compare to the adventure and beauty of riding a horse. Though riding looks so deceptively simple at first, it takes a lot of discipline and bonding to excel as a rider. Among the equestrian-dominant nations like the USA, France, Germany and the Netherlands emerges a skilled show jumper with a Sri Lankan linage.
Adopted by a Swedish family when she was a three month old infant, Mathilda Karlsson has now gained global recognition for her equestrian talents. This gifted youth switched her nationality back to her motherland and vies to become the first Sri Lankan show jumper to complete at the Olympic Games.
A consistent rider on the Longines Global Champions Tour and current member of the Global Champions League (GCL) team, the Hamburg Giants, Mathilda dreams of making her home country proud.
“In Sweden, there weren’t many dark-colorued people 35 years ago. Though I was different from my classmates and friends, I always liked the attention I received. I never had any bad experiences so I didn’t mind it at all. I still don’t,” she opened up the conversation.
Unlike many other countries which choose sports like soccer, basketball, surfing or cricket as a popular part-times for kids, horseback riding was the sport of choice for most Swedish children.
“Its like a social thing because all your friends attend these schools. So you go because you want to be with your friends. Once I got older, my friends dropped off. I stayed because I fell in love with the horses,” Mathilda elaborated on how she started her equestrian career at the local club Kristianstads Ryttarsällskap.
Her passion and dedication moulded her career path.
“I was never ever thinking of being an international show jumper. I never wanted to compete myself. I just loved grooming and hanging around. Then, obviously, things changed and now I can’t even imagine not showing,” she revealed.
She says that her GCL teammates and former Swedish Chef d’Equipe, Sylve Söderstrand, have been part of her success.
“I was on the team with Rolf-Göran Bengtsson. He is someone I look up to. We would walk the course together, and he had so many good tips and advice that I would never have thought of. I learned a lot just by watching him and John Whitaker and being around them,” Mathilda explained.
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Riding her way to success
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One of the pearls of wisdom she received from them that every week is a new week and even if you have a bad round, no one is going to think about it except for yourself.
“I was oftentimes worried about what other people would think, but they taught me how important it is to just let it go. Tomorrow is a new day, and a new class,” she said.
She points out that equestrian sport is the only Olympic sport that men and women compete together. “It’s a very time consuming sport and the most challenging part is probably interacting with your partner which in the case of an equestrian is their horse. I enjoy the excitement of show jumping. However, every good show jumper needs to have good dressage skills too,” she said.
Her bonding with Sri Lanka came during her first visit here in 2017 which she described as a super experience. Stirred by the natural beauty of the isle and the hospitality of its people, Mathilda decided to switch to represent her birth country. She managed to achieve her wish supported by the Sri Lanka Equestrian Association.
“It was not an easy decision, as I was always very happy to be representing Sweden. I will always be Swedish, and a big part of my heart will always belong to Sweden. That is where I grew up, and where I have all my values from. However, I feel very proud and supported representing Sri Lanka. For me, it was the right thing to do,” Mathilda explained.
One of her proudest moments in life was debuting under the Sri Lankan flag at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco.
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With her pet dog Cookie
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Her biggest challenge is ahead of her – qualifying for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Though the pandemic has postponed the event, Mathilda is keeping her fingers crossed and training to achieve her dream soon.
There are 200 slots allocated to equestrian between the three disciplines of show jumping, dressage, and eventing for the 2020 Olympic Games. Of those 200, 15 are reserved for individual show jumpers not qualified on a team. These individuals are chosen by FEI Olympic Ranking. From the South East Asia and Oceania region, which includes Sri Lanka, there are only two individual spots up for grabs.
Hard work and a positive environment are important when one is determined to achieve something. You must be surrounded by people who are positive and supportive. I am living in such a setting. Never underestimate a rider’s dream,” she noted adding that though it is a mammoth task, she will give it all that she has got. Her goal is to reach the top 100 in the world ranking.
Speaking about her Olympic mount, Holsteiner stallion Chopin VA (Casall x Coriano x Cantus), Mathilda notes that the horse was trained and taken to the highest level by her from his young days.
“Chopin and I have been inseparable since the day he was born. He and I have a very special connection. We are like best friends. At times, it feels like we can read each other’s minds!” Mathilda adds.
Her advice for other young women is to become the queen of their own path.
“Every young woman should take the chance to become the best version of herself. Everything is possible, you just need to work a bit harder for it and never ever stop believing in yourself and your dreams,” she concluded.
