Phoenix rises to challenge of Olympic Games for fourth time

Lisha Van Nieuwenhove

She found out she made Team Canada last Friday, and she’s almost packed and ready to leave this Saturday morning, headed for the Paris Summer Olympics

Uxbridge’s Jessica Phoenix will represent Team Canada in the equestrian discipline of eventing. Karl Slezak, of Tottenham, and Michael Winter, of Toronto, round out the team.

Shannon Brinkman photo, submitted by Jessica Phoenix

This is the fourth time that Phoenix has been named to the Olympic team, though she had to withdraw from Tokyo 2020 after her horse, Pavarotti, sustained an injury in a final training session. Phoenix is a also five-time medallist at the Pan Am Games.

“It never gets old,” laughs Phoenix. “The feeling of representing your country, riding your horse and going around the ring - it is such an honour.”

Phoenix will be riding Freedom GS, a Trakehnar mare that stands at 16.1 hands (one hand is equal to four inches), at the Olympics, and says her ‘reserve’ horse is Wabbit, a grey thoroughbred gelding.

Eventing is a horseback riding discipline that combines dressage, cross country and showjumping, and is often considered to be the ultimate test for horse and rider, as it requires a high level of skill and training across the three different disciplines.

Phoenix and her team, which includes both horses and a professional groom, among others, leave for France on Saturday. Phoenix says they weren’t sure until last week whether they would make the Canadian team, but they had to be prepared “just in case.”

“They (the selection team) have to make the selection as late as possible to make sure that everyone is staying up with their best possible performances, so that they peak at the Games. We have to prepare as though we’re going, and if we’re not chosen, we have to reroute our competition plans.”

Each horse has its own passport, and must have proof of bloodwork and vaccinations being up to date before leaving Canada. Phoenix and her team are taking the horses to New York, where they will placed in a large crate fashioned for the journey. Their groom will travel with them, while Phoenix will travel separately.

Submitted by Jessica Phoenix

Once they land in France, the team will spend a week at a training camp about two hours away from Paris, the centre of the 2024 Olympic Games. Then it’s back on the road and heading to the Château de Versailles, which will host all equestrian disciplines from July 27 to August 6. Eventing will run July 27-29, followed by dressage from July 30 to August 4. The Games begin on July 24, with the opening ceremony taking place July 26, and run through to August 11.

Having just returned from a competition in Maryland, Phoenix says she is “feeling great” heading into the Olympic Games.

“You have to build your own physical fitness to peak at the Games. You have to make sure you’re practiced enough. And I’m feeling good about it!”

She says she also feels good about the role that Uxbridge has played in her success to date.

“Uxbridge has had a massive hand in getting me to this level. I have felt a huge amount of support - being born and raised here is incredible! It takes a village to get an athlete to this level, and it’s very humbling.”

Well-wishers are invited to “An Olympic send-off for Jessica Phoenix” this Friday, July 12, between 6:30 - 9 p.m., at 7260 Conc. 6. Donations towards Phoenix’s Olympic journey (each horse costs $70,000 to support, round trip) will be gratefully accepted at the send-off party on Friday, or can be sent by etransfer to fergusonjessie@hotmail.com

For more information on Jessica Phoenix and her career, visit jessicaphoenix.ca