João Oliva in Paris Olympics

In his third Olympic participation, 28-year-old rider João Victor Marcari Oliva reached a significant milestone in the dressage event held in the majestic gardens of the Palace of Versailles.

With an impressive performance, João achieved a score of 70.093%, riding the 12-year-old German Westfalen horse, Feel Good VO, which he trained himself. This achievement is a testament to his dedication and skill in the equestrian sport.

Performance in Adverse Conditions

Under an intense heat of 35 degrees Celsius, João and Feel Good VO executed a flawless test despite the challenging weather conditions. “There was a lack of energy here and there, but even so, I felt Feel Good giving his best. The horse came in good condition, but when you face such heat, it feels like 40 degrees even inside my coat. So, despite the external factors, everything went very well. I wanted to score above 70%, and I did. Scoring 70% in an Olympics is not for just anyone. I couldn’t be happier. I hope I made the Brazilians who cheered for me proud,” João Oliva told the CBH press office.

João Victor’s Olympic Journey

João Victor has a respectable history in the Olympics. In 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, he finished in 46th place with a score of 68.071%, riding Xamã dos Pinhais. In Tokyo, he significantly improved, reaching the 26th position among 59 competitors with Escorial, scoring 70.419%. Now, in Versailles, he maintained consistency with a score above 70%, even competing with a different horse in each edition of the Games.

João expressed that the three Olympics were incomparable experiences due to the different horses and environments. “In Tokyo, there was no audience, and in Rio de Janeiro, there were relatively few spectators. Here in Versailles, the stadium is beautiful, full, and we like to perform for a large crowd,” said the rider, who practically grew up on his father’s farm and will now focus on cheering for his friends in the upcoming events.

Mantovani Horses congratulates João Victor Marcari Oliva on his exceptional performance and continues to support him in his journey in international equestrianism. With dedication and passion, João inspires all of us and elevates Brazil’s name to new heights in the global equestrian scene.