German pentathlon coach thrown out of Tokyo Games for ‘punching a horse’

Many are saying the horse was visibly distressed.

German modern pentathlon coach Kim Raisner has been thrown out of the Tokyo Olympics after she punched a horse during the competition.

Totally disgraceful riding and treatment of Saint Boy..she should have got off him and calmed him down, quite obviously something was really wrong with him…not have him thumped in the rump by the trainer#@kimraisner and not be instructed to 'hit him hit him'… PETA investigate pic.twitter.com/yv0y3KoTI8

— Barliewine (@barliewine) August 6, 2021

Athletes are only given twenty minutes to bond with an unfamiliar horse, but champion Annika Schleu was in tears as she began her event. Raisner was reportedly attempting to help Schleu gain control over the the horse, named Saint Boy, but chose to “strike the horse with her first.”

The world governing body for modern pentathlon, the UIPM, has released a statement:

“The UIPM Executive Board (EB) has given a black card to the Germany team coach Kim Raisner, disqualifying her from the remainder of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games,” they said.

“Her actions were deemed to be in violation of the UIPM competition rules, which are applied to all recognised modern pentathlon competitions including the Olympic Games.

“The EB decision was made today at the Tokyo Stadium before the resumption of the men’s modern pentathlon competition.”