How Thomas Müller’s horse made him an Olympic champion
| Thomas Müller. | Photo: Steindy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 |
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Thomas Müller’s love of horses has been well-documented throughout his career, and he has owned shared in several different equine stars. However, Olympic success would have been something that he couldn’t have foreseen when starting his interesting in horse ownership.
Müller’s Horse Wins Gold
Unfortunately, Müller wasn’t in Paris to watch his horse, Checker, win the gold medal, but he shared his delight on social media after the final points was awarded. The German international posted a video, with a caption reading ‘We are Olympic winners’.
Checker won the top prize in the hands of Christian Kukuk in the show jumping discipline at Versailles, and Muller was quick to thank his coach, Vincent Kompany, for allowing his time away from training so that he would watch his horse in action in France.
It was a tight final involving three horses, but it would ultimately be Checker’s score of 38.34 in the jump-off that won him the gold medal, with Switzerland taking the silver, and the Netherlands taking the bronze medal.
It was yet another dominant showing by Germany in the equestrian events at the Olympics, with the nation winning four of the six golds on offer, which included top prizes in the Individual Dressage and the Team Dressage.
However, there was more success to follow for Muller and Checker, as the horse partnered with Kukuk would win the silver medal at the show jumping finals in London in late 2024.
Müller’s Passion For Horses
The Bayern Munich legend has made no secret of his love for all things horses, and admitted that he got the ‘bug’ for the animals after encouragement from his wife, Lisa. She is a professional dressage rider, and Muller is a frequent visitor in attendance to watch her performances.
It may have been his wife that got him into the sport, but Muller has since revealed that he holds a special place in his heart for horses because they are ‘friendly creatures’ and they emit ‘strength and elegance’ whenever they are competing.
Müller’s Sporting Success
Müller is one of the most recognisable football stars in Germany, meaning that his success at the Olympics made international news. The German international has been no stranger to success on the field, as he was part of the 2014 World Cup-winning squad in Brazil. Muller also picked up the Best Young Player award at the 2010 World Cup, and also won the Golden Boot in the same tournament. However, his international career came to an end following the 2024 EUROs after he announced his retirement.
However, the 35-year-old continues to be a mainstay in the Bayern Munich side. Müller came through the youth system, and has won the Bundesliga title on a staggering 12 occasions. He has also won the DFB Pokal six times, and the Champions League twice.
Müller made his club debut in the 2009-10 season under Louis van Gaal, and was a key player in the double winning team. His knack for scoring big goals was evident in the 2012 Champions League final, but Bayern would ultimately lose on penalties.
However, this was vindicating in the following season, as he scored 23 goals as the Bavarians won the treble. Muller continues to play at a high level, and he is the all-time appearance holder for Bayern Munich, as well as holding the esteemed record for the most Champions League appearances for a single team.
Football & Horses
The world of football and horses have typically crossed over throughout history, with many stars looking to invest in the equine sport. One of the most successful in recent memory comes in the form of legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who claimed Cheltenham Festival success with Protektorat in 2024. Ferguson has also achieved racing success on the flat, with Spirit Dancer winning two lucrative prizes overseas, including most recently, the G2 Bahrain International Trophy in November 2024.
Harry Redknapp is another footballing manager that has gone into life in racing. The former Tottenham boss achieved a first Cheltenham Festival winner with Shakem Up’arry winning the Plate Handicap Chase in 2024. Further big race success could follow at the Festival in 2025, as The Jukebox Man has won twice over fences this season and will run in the G1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
Antoine Griezmann is another current footballing star that has big online horse racing winners to his name. The French World Cup winner has a strong squad of his horses under his name, but few have been as successful as Txope, who won the German 1,000 Guineas in 2022.
