– I am doing great! I’m a bit surprised myself that I’m leading the World Cup, says Victoria Gulliksen. After a second place during the competition in Oslo on 16 October and a sixth place in Helsinki on 23 October, Victoria Gulliksen now tops the overall list in the Western European show jumping league. – We are two individuals who are together, and we both have to be fit. You never quite know if both are there before the start, she says. In this competition in Oslo, Gulliksen took second place. Photo: Norges Rytterforund The incredible horse comeback Victoria’s horse is called Equine America Papa Roach and is 13 years old. She has had the horse for a long time, but four years ago it suffered a serious injury to the tendon in a leg. The vet believed the horse could never compete again, but Victoria refused to give up hope. After one year and nine months, the horse was back in the competition arena again. – It is a very long time for a horse to be outside, says Victoria. She says that horses often lose motivation if they are not close to the competition arena for a while. – I think he would come back for me. We are a good team together, and he means a lot to me, says Victoria. Proud Dad – I think you have a chance to win it all, Victoria. Dad Geir Gulliksen talks to his daughter on the phone. He is at home at the stable in Lier, while Victoria lives and looks after the family stable in Belgium. He is proud of what his daughter has achieved. Geir Gulliksen often talks to his daughter on the phone from Belgium. Photo: Caroline Bækkelund Hauge / news – It is no coincidence that she is successful, she works very hard, says Geir. He says that she was a determined horse girl even as a child. Geir Gulliksen himself has been on the Norwegian national team for almost 40 years. He still has over 200 travel days a year, and has put the World Cup, Olympics and WC behind him. He has 12 royal trophies. He participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics and in 2020 where he reached the final. The 62-year-old also participated in the Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2021 as the oldest Norwegian Olympic athlete ever. – We are a good team in the family. There are many of us working towards the same goal and competing, says Geir. Missing 12 points for the final, Victoria now has 28 points in total. The next time she will have the opportunity to score points is during the World Cup event in Verona, Italy, from 3 to 6 November. She needs to have 39 points in total to reach the finals in the USA in April. That is what both Victoria and Geir Gulliksen are determined that she will do. – I hope that we get to the final and win the whole thing, if the horse and I are in good shape. It would have been a new dream and a new historical experience for Norway, says Victoria. Parts of the Gulliksen family September 2021. Victoria, Geir and Elisabeth. Photo: Ulrik Kramer / news
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Victoria Gulliksen leads the world cup in show jumping – news Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
