A Lifelong Dream Come True

Elisabeth, first of all, congratulations on winning gold at the European Championships! How did it feel when you stepped onto the podium?

Elisabeth von Wulffen: Thank you so much! It was just incredible. I'm a very emotional person – there were definitely a few tears. For me, this moment was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream: Standing on the podium for Team Germany means so much to me. It was a mixture of joy, relief, and gratitude – for my horse, my trainer, my family, the entire team. And, of course, for my fellow riders. We had a great atmosphere and supported each other.

You were the first rider for Germany in the team competition – a particular stressful position.

Elisabeth: Definitely. You don't know how strict the judges are or what the atmosphere will be like, and you want to deliver a good first performance for the team. But I had a great feeling beforehand and was able to perform in the arena exactly as we had trained. The fact that we were able to start with a flawless round was a real highlight – and important for the team.

Germany took the lead with two very strong rides from you and Felicitas Hendricks – how was it to wait for the others to start?

Elisabeth: Terrible! (laughs) My teammate Felicitas and I were totally desperate on the second day. You don't want to stress the others in the team unnecessarily, so we stuck together, cheered and encouraged the others. And when our last rider, Moritz (editor's note: Treffinger), also put in a great performance, we were overjoyed.

How did it go for you in the individual classification?

Elisabeth: In the first test, I was briefly in eighth place – out of almost 50 starters! The individual competition on the second day also went well, even though I had a slight wobble and ended up in 14th place. I would have even qualified for the freestyle, but only three riders per nation are allowed to compete – I was the fourth place. Nevertheless, I am very proud of my performance.

What does this success mean to you – also in terms of your sporting career?

Elisabeth: A great deal. It was an incredible experience, and it took me a few days to really realize it. In top-level sport, you give up a lot – you have little social life, you move around a lot, and you have to focus constantly on training and performance. But this success shows me that it was exactly the right path to take.

Your horse is called “Triple A.” What makes him special?

Elisabeth: We just call him “Triple.” He may not be the most flashy horse on the field – but we have a very strong harmony. I can rely on him 100 percent, every lesson is perfect. This trust is worth its weight in gold, especially in competitive situations like this.

And besides all the sport, you're also studying at KLU. How does that combination work for you?

Elisabeth: I'd be lying if I said it was easy. Exam periods, tournament preparation, traveling – juggling all of that is challenging. But I have a strong team around me, both at the stable and at university. My trainer, grooms, the professors at KLU – they all support me a lot. Without this understanding, it wouldn't be possible. It takes a lot of discipline, organization – and passion.

How did you come to KLU?

Elisabeth: After graduating from high school, I spent a year in Milan, where I studied and hardly rode at all. After that, it was clear: I need horses around me. At the same time, I wanted a degree program that would challenge me academically and be within easy reach of my training location in Warendorf. I then discovered KLU's sports scholarship program, called Johannes [editor's note: Sports Relation Manager at KLU] two weeks before the start of the semester, and it actually worked out. I am very grateful for that.

What are your next goals – athletically and academically?

Elisabeth: Next year is my last U25 year – I definitely want to compete in the European Championships again and fight my way up in the individual rankings. After that, I'll see how things go – but horses will definitely remain a part of my life. Whether I'll eventually do it professionally, either independently or in a company, remains to be seen.

Further information

The 2025 U25 European Dressage Championships took place from July 9 to 11 at the traditional Schafhof stud farm in Kronberg (Hesse) – the home stable of Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff. In the team competition, Germany confidently prevailed over the competition and secured the title for the ninth time since 2016.

In addition to Elisabeth von Wulffen (with Triple A), the German team also included Moritz Treffinger (Cadeau Noir), Felicitas Hendricks (Drombusch), and Anna Schölermann (Springborgs Guardian). Germany was already in the lead after the first two rides, including Elisabeth's flawless opening round. With strong performances the following day, Treffinger and Schölermann sealed the overall victory. Silver went to the Netherlands and bronze to Great Britain.

In the individual classification, Elisabeth von Wulffen finished 14th out of almost 50 starters after a solid performance.

Overview of results

Team classification

Gold: Germany – Elisabeth von Wulffen (Triple A), Anna Schölermann (Springborgs Guardian), Moritz Treffinger (Cadeau Noir), Felicitas Hendricks (Drombusch)

Silver: Netherlands

Bronze: Great Britain

Individual classification

1.    Anna Schölermann (GER) with Springborgs Guardian

2.    Moritz Treffinger (GER) with Cadeau Noir

3.    Sara Aagaard Hyrm (DEN) with Atterupgaards Cooper

Freestyle final

1.    Moritz Treffinger (GER) with Cadeau Noir

2.    Sara Aagaard Hyrm (DEN) with Atterupgaards Cooper

3.    Felicitas Hendricks (GER) with Drombusch OLD

Support for athletes at KLU

KLU is an official “partner university for elite sports” and a partner of the German University Sports Federation (ADH) and the Olympic Training Center Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein. As part of this cooperation, KLU offers both a targeted scholarship program for Bundesliga athletes and tuition fee reductions for these athletes. In addition to financial support, there are flexible and individual solutions to help students balance their studies and competitive sports.

Are you an athlete or would you like to learn more? Learn more about KLU Sports.