Max Kühner

Max Kühner
Head-and-shoulders image of equestrian Max Kühner facing the camera
Kühner in 2018
Personal information
NationalityAustrian, German
Born (1974-01-15) 15 January 1974 (age 50)
Munich, Germany
SpouseLiv Kühner (dressage rider)
Sport
Country Austria(since 2015)
 Germany(2009-2015)
Sportshow-jumping
Achievements and titles
World finalsTryon 2018
Herning 2022

Max Kühner (born 15 January 1974 in München, Germany) is a German-born Austrian show-jumping rider.[1] He represented Austria at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina and the 2022 FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark, where he finished 12th in the team and 6th in the individual competition. He has represented Austria at five European Show Jumping Championships and five FEI World Cup Finals. He is currently the highest ranked Austrian show-jumper,[2] and rated third internationally.[3]

Show jumping career

Kühner trains and lives in Starnberg, Germany.[4] In 2009, he was selected to compete for Germany at the World Cup Final in Las Vegas, but had to withdraw prior to competition.[5] In 2015, he obtained Austrian citizenship to allow himself a better chance at competing for a national team.[6][7]

2024 season

At the 2024 show jumping world cup competition in Basel, Kühner placed third.[8] At the Show Jumping World Cup final in Riyadh, Kühner competed on two horses, and placed seventh in the world cup rankings.[9][10] At the Nations Cup in June, Kühner and the Austrian team placed sixth.[11]

In 2024, Kühner was selected by the Austrian Equestrian Federation to represent the Austrian team at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.[12] He placed 7th individually in the competition, after dropping a rail at the final obstacle.[13][14]

Injuries

In 2019, Kühner broke his shoulder while competing in La Baule.[15][16] After eight weeks of recovery, he returned to ride in the European Championships in Rotterdam.

In June 2024, he broke his hand while competing in the Nations Cup round in Sopot, Poland.[17] He was unable to continue the competition,[18] but recovered in time to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris six weeks later.

Animal cruelty allegations

In 2008 Kühner was cited by the Bavarian Riding and Driving Association for allegations of animal cruelty.[19] A subsequent disciplinary commission criticized his training practices, but did not find evidence of guilt.[4] Afterwards, Kühner claimed the case was brought forward by a disgruntled associate for revenge.[20]

In 2023, a whistleblower raised concerns about Kühner's training practices,[21][22] and his facilities were searched by the police.[6] A penal order was issued in March 2024,[23] with a hearing scheduled in September 2024.[4] In July 2024, PETA Germany filed a criminal complaint against Kühner with Munich's public prosecutor and released a report questioning his inclusion at the Olympic games.[24] Kühner filed an appeal in response.[3] Kühner denied the allegations, suggesting the report by PETA was spread deliberately before the games.[25]

References

  1. ^ "Max Kühner". fei.org. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  2. ^ Bergh-Rommedahl, André (January 13, 2022). "Portrait: Max Kühner, Austria's star from Germany". Malgré Tout Media.
  3. ^ a b sportschau.de. ""Aktives Barren"?: Vorwurf der Tierquälerei - Strafbefehl gegen Springreiter Max Kühner". sportschau.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  4. ^ a b c "Olympia 2024: Tierquälerei-Vorwurf gegen Springreiter Max Kühner". FAZ.NET (in German). 2024-07-25. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  5. ^ "Max Kuhner Withdraws - The Chronicle of the Horse". Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  6. ^ a b "Österreichs Springreiter Max Kühner wird Verstoß gegen Tierschutzgesetz vorgeworfen". DER STANDARD (in Austrian German). Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  7. ^ "Aus Hadorf zu den Olympischen Spielen 2024: Ein Besuch auf der Anlage von Springreiter Max Kühner". www.merkur.de (in German). 2024-02-17. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  8. ^ Rejlek, Julia (2024-01-14). "Max Kühner sichert sich Rang drei im Weltcup-Springen von Basel". Equestrian Worldwide | Pferdesport weltweit | EQWO.net (in German). Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  9. ^ Rejlek, Julia (2024-04-21). "Riyadh: Henrik von Eckermann verteidigt Weltcup-Titel, Max Kühner holt ex aequo Tagessieg". Equestrian Worldwide | Pferdesport weltweit | EQWO.net (in German). Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  10. ^ Haidvogel, Julia (2024-05-09). "Weltrangliste Springen: Max Kühner auf Rang 7". Equestrian Worldwide | Pferdesport weltweit | EQWO.net (in German). Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  11. ^ Comité, Österreichisches Olympisches. "Hiobsbotschaft für Kühner". Österreichisches Olympisches Comité (in German). Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  12. ^ "OEPS-NOMINIERUNGSVORSCHLAG: PARIS, WIR KOMMEN!" (in German). OEPS. 2 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Max Kühner geht im Finale der Springreiter leer aus". DER STANDARD (in Austrian German). Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  14. ^ Comité, Österreichisches Olympisches. ""Möchte etwas mitnehmen"". Österreichisches Olympisches Comité (in German). Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  15. ^ "Max Kühner injured". Equnews International. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  16. ^ Showjumping, www worldofshowjumping com, World of. "Max Kühner out with injury". www.worldofshowjumping.com. Retrieved 2024-08-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ kronesport (2024-06-14). "Kühner suffers hand fracture during Olympic preparations!". Kronen Zeitung. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  18. ^ Rejlek, Julia (2024-06-14). "Schock! Max Kühner bricht sich in Sopot die Hand". Equestrian Worldwide | Pferdesport weltweit | EQWO.net (in German). Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  19. ^ "Verfahren gegen Max Kühner eingestellt -". St.GEORG. 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  20. ^ Abendzeitung (2009-03-28). ""Feng Shui für Pferde"". www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  21. ^ "Olympia: Skandal um Springreiter Max Kühner – Tierschutz-Vorwürfe!". SPORT1 (in German). 2024-07-25. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  22. ^ florian.plavec (2024-08-01). "Tierquälerei? Springreiter Kühner wehrt sich gegen die Vorwürfe". kurier.at (in German). Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  23. ^ "Aktives Barren? Strafbefehl gegen Springreiter Max Kühner". Tageblatt.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  24. ^ "Max Kühner: Tierquäler bei den Olympischen Spielen 2024?". PETA Deutschland e.V. (in German). 2024-07-23. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  25. ^ "Springreiter Max Kühner bestreitet Verstoß gegen Tierschutzgesetze". DER STANDARD (in Austrian German). Retrieved 2024-08-07.