Kyrklund and Van Rooijen-Heuitink Join Finnish Dressage Technical Staff for L.A. Olympics

Dressage

Finland

The Finnish Equestrian Federation has agreed to cooperate with three internationally renowned experts. Kyra Kyrklund will become an advisor for dressage, focusing on developing basic coaching for Finnish athletes.

Two respected coaches with a strong track record have been appointed to the Los Angeles Olympic project. Lizzel Winter will become the director of the eventing Olympic project and Joyce van Rooijen-Heuitink will be the advisor for the para-school team.

Finland on the International Scene

"Now we are starting to have a new sports organization at the finish line," says Tom Gordin, chairman of the Finnish Sports Management Board. "By including these international top experts in our renewed sports organization, we will have even better conditions and credibility to take Finland towards the international level and achieve the goals we have set. The sporting goal for the four-year period that has begun is to have full teams in dressage, eventing and para-school riding, as well as individual riders in jumping."

The importance of Finland's most successful dressage rider and trainer, Kyra Kyrklund, to our dressage is always appreciated, even by the Olympic Committee. Last year, Kyrklund was awarded the Olympic Committee's Great Medal of Merit in recognition of her remarkable career as a successful dressage rider and trainer, and her contribution to Finnish sports and equestrianism.

Kyrklund and Van Rooijen-Heuitink

Kyra Kyrklund is particularly involved in the development of domestic coaching as a respected expert. She focuses on riders and their coaches with the aim of raising the level and quality of home training.

"The world's leading dressage expert, Kyra Kyrklund, will be available for the development of dressage in the future. She intends to focus on improving the level of basic riding, which has been talked about a lot. Joint training events are planned for coaches at different levels of the federation, in which the head coaches also play a significant role. She will also offer sparring on various current challenges in the sport," says Marjukka Manninen, Chairwoman of the Board of the Finnish Equestrian Federation.

Los Angeles Olympic project gets additional impetus from Van Rooijen-Heuitink. Finland sent its first ever para-school team to Paris last summer. The goals have not diminished since then for Los Angeles. The coaching team will be strengthened by Joyce van Rooijen-Heuitink, the long-time head coach of the Dutch para-school team.

Under her leadership, the Dutch para-school teams achieved numerous medals in prestigious competitions. She is also an international Grand Prix-level school judge and has competed in dressage at the Grand Prix level.

“I look forward to working with the Finnish Equestrian Federation and the para-school riders. Together we will strive to achieve a solid championship level,” says Joyce van Rooijen-Heuitink.