Bruce Springsteen’s Daughter Jessica Fails To Qualify For Finals In Olympic Equestrian Debut
Topline
Jessica Rae Springsteen, the only daughter of bestselling singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, made her Olympic debut Tuesday morning in equestrian jumping, though she didn’t score high enough to progress to the event’s finals.
Jessica Springsteen and Bruce Springsteen backstage after a performance of ‘The Last Ship’ at the … [+]
Getty Images
Key Facts
Springsteen, currently ranked 14th in the world in equestrian jumping, made her first Olympic appearance during the individual jumping event early Tuesday morning.
While she and her 12-year-old horse Don Juan van de Donkhoeve had a strong start, they knocked down a rail toward the end of their round, resulting in a score too low to qualify for the jumping finals.
“All in all, I’m thrilled with the round and I’m excited for the rest of the week,” Springsteen told the Associated Press.
Springsteen is expected to ride again on Friday as part of the team jumping event.
Jessica Springsteen competes at International Longines Global Champion Tour on June 9, 2016 in … [+]
Getty Images
Key Background
This summer’s Tokyo Games will be the first time Springsteen competes on the Olympic stage, although she was selected as an alternate for the 2012 London Games while still a student at Duke University, where she studied psychology. At 29, Springsteen is the youngest equestrian jumper on Team USA in an event that regularly features some of the Olympics’ oldest athletes. Springsteen was raised on Stone Hill Farm, a 368-acre property in Colts Neck, New Jersey, where she began riding at age 4. She said growing up in New Jersey and focusing on horseback riding allowed her to have a more normal childhood, even with her dad Bruce being one of the best-selling musical acts of all time. Equestrian events also helped Springsteen overcome childhood shyness. “I was awkward and introverted with other people for a long time,” Springsteen said in 2015. “Riding helped me gain confidence, because when you work hard at something and see the results it makes you feel good about yourself.” Unfortunately for Springsteen’s parents and her two brothers, Sam and Evan, foreign spectators have been barred from the Tokyo Games over coronavirus concerns.
Comments