Jessica Springsteen Not Selected for U.S. Olympic Equestrian Team

Jessica Springsteen, the equestrian daughter of legendary rock star Bruce Springsteen, will not be representing the United States in the upcoming Paris Olympics despite participating in the Tokyo Games in 2021.

Jessica Springsteen, the equestrian daughter of legendary rock star Bruce Springsteen, has not been selected for the U.S. Olympic equestrian jumping team for the Paris Olympics. The announcement was made on Saturday afternoon by USA Equestrian, which revealed that veteran riders Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut, and McLain Ward would fill the three spots, with Karl Cook named as the team's alternate.

Springsteen, 32, was part of the U.S. team that won a silver medal in Tokyo alongside Kraut and Ward, marking the fourth medal in the past five Olympics for the Americans in the event. She rode her 12-year-old stallion, Don Juan van de Donkhoeve.

Jessica Springsteen Not Selected for U.S. Olympic Equestrian Team

Springsteen had been tracking to make the team this year, being named one of 10 on the U.S. Jumping Team's short list for the Olympics in April. U.S. Equestrian said in a press release at the time that those 10 athletes would be "chosen for continued observation."

However, Springsteen's status in the rankings has declined since her performance in Tokyo. According to the International Federation of Equestrian Sports' official website, Springsteen is now ranked 127th in the world, down from 14th in 2021.

Jessica Springsteen Not Selected for U.S. Olympic Equestrian Team

In contrast, Farrington (6th), Ward, (15th), Kraut (35th), and Cook (23rd) are all much higher in the rankings. The selection committee likely considered this disparity in their decision.

Springsteen expressed her desire to continue competing with hopes of reaching the Olympics in an interview with Harper's Bazaar in May. "Tokyo 2020 was such an incredible experience, but because of that year and all the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, you know, you couldn’t have your family and your friends there," she said. "So I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I would love to go to another Olympics and be able to share that with my family, who’ve been so supportive of my career for so many years.’"

Jessica Springsteen Not Selected for U.S. Olympic Equestrian Team

Springsteen's father, Bruce Springsteen, had set aside a two-week block in his touring schedule during the Olympics. While this may not have been the official reason for the break, it suggests that he was looking forward to the possibility of seeing his daughter compete in Paris.

Despite not making the Olympic team this time around, Springsteen remains a talented equestrian with a bright future. She will likely continue to compete at the highest levels and may have another opportunity to represent the United States in future Olympic Games.

In the meantime, the U.S. equestrian jumping team will head to Paris with a strong contingent of experienced riders. Farrington, Kraut, and Ward have all competed in multiple Olympics, and Cook is a rising star in the sport. The team will be aiming to improve on their silver medal performance in Tokyo and bring home a gold medal for the United States.