The US team which qualified for the Jumping final at Equestrian Park in Tokyo, also includes a 29-year-old who is making her Olympic debut. Crossing through the timers with a minimum number of faults and securing another strong ride for the team was Jessica Springsteen. Yes, the surname said it all – she is the daughter of 'The Boss', American rock legend Bruce Springsteen.
Riding on Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion, Jessica – also known as Jessie – finished her team event with only four faults in a time of 80.67 seconds. The pair had just barely missed qualification for the Individual final earlier in the week but looked sharp and competitive as the US finished in the top five of 19 teams who contested the course.
"I had a lot more nerves today as opposed to the first day. I want to make everyone at home proud and have a good performance for my teammates and I think we're sitting in a good spot heading into tomorrow," said Jessica.
Battling intense spotlight, this Springsteen has already made her musician parents Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa immensely proud by becoming one of the top equestrian athletes for the US.
Jessica started taking riding lessons at age five and took top honors at the country's most prestigious events throughout her junior years, including winning the 2008 ASPCA Maclay National and 2009 George H Morris Excellence in Equitation championship titles.
According to the US Equestrian, as a jumper, Jessica had early success as a member of the Zone 2 Young Riders team that won the silver medal at the 2010 North American Youth Championships and as the individual bronze medalist at the same event. She has represented the US as part of FEI Nations Cup teams. In 2012, she was named as an alternate for the US team which competed in the London Olympics.
Between the London and Tokyo Games, Jessica missed the Rio Olympics but not only worked hard to rise through the competitive international ranks but also split her time studying psychology at Duke University.
"We had a really grounded upbringing and it was nice that I always had riding to focus on and have something a little bit for myself. I think that really helped me grow and become who I am today. And it taught me to work hard and to dedicate myself to something. It's great that they [parents] come and share it as a family, they're my biggest supporters," she had told CNN in 2019.
As Jessica and her team are all primed and ready for tonight's final, a rock legend and his singer-songwriter life partner will wake up early at his massive 300-acre Stone Hill Farm in New Jersey's Colts Neck to watch their daughter's attempt at Olympic glory.
Also Read: A Hoy! 62-year-old Australian wins two medals at 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
