The barriers depict everything from pastries to the famous French wine-making process—and even a mini Eiffel Tower.
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In the gardens of the Château de Versailles—an iconic setting about nine miles from Paris proper—the Olympics’ four-legged athletes (and their two-legged riders) have been sailing over fences that are far more than mere poles in the ground: They’re meticulously crafted, gorgeous masterpieces that almost draw our attention away from the amazing jumps the equestrians and their mounts are executing.
The course for the Paris 2024 equestrian jumping events was designed by 45-year-old Grégory Bodo, who worked with a Spanish partner, Santiago Varela Ullastres. Together, they created 14 obstacles of different heights and widths for each day, placed throughout the sandy track of the arena in which the jumping events were held. The fences were kept in locked, secured semi-trailers before the competition began, lest any riders get an early peek at their difficulty levels, Le Monde reports.
The team jumping event ended August 2, and produced the oldest American medalist in 72 years—58-year-old Laura Kraut, who won silver with her teammates Karl Cook and McLain Ward. But you can still catch these compositions in the individual jumping competition, which begins August 5.
The art—er, obstacles—range from ancient Japanese symbols to landmarks any visitor to Paris will recognize (yes, there are nods to wine and pastries), and are described in pdfs on the Olympics website. Scroll below to check out our absolute favorites. And then tune in on Monday so you can pick out your faves in action.
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Stephen McCarthy/Getty Images
Arc de Triomphe
Speaking of Kraut, here’s the 58-year-old medalist and horse Baloutinue just after clearing a replica of the Arc de Triomphe—quite possibly the most famous monument in Paris, if not the world. The laurel wreaths along the bottom nod to the sculpture on the left face of the arch, Cortot’s The Triumph of Napoleon, in which a toga-clad Napoleon is crowned with one.
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Stephen McCarthy/Getty Images
Notre Dame
This gorgeous jump recreates one of the well-known rose windows of the Notre Dame Cathedral, masterpieces of Gothic art that cover over 1,000 square feet of the church. Fortunately, all the windows survived the devastating fire that destroyed part of the spire and roof of the cathedral in 2019. But it’s still closed to the public, with an estimated reopening date of December 2024, making this jump (shown here with Richard Vogel of Team Germany, on United Touch S) a welcome sight in the meantime.
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David Fitzgerald/Getty Images
Gastronomie
Yes, those are macarons you’re looking at here, alongside Team Ireland’s Cian O’Connor and his horse Maurice. In fact, this jump is one of two that celebrates the important culinary role of the French pâtisserie. The other, also a vibrant pink, features stacks of eclairs.
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Stephen McCarthy/Getty Images
Vinification
Few things are more French than pastries, but wine is a close contender. This jump depicts several steps of the winemaking process, including the harvesting of grapes and barrel aging, which adds depth and complexity to the resulting fermented beverage. We’re guessing Kim Emmen of Team Netherlands, shown here on Imagine, waited until after her event to partake.
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Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
New Olympic Pictograms
Pictograms—graphic representations—have been used at the Games since Tokyo in 1964. Here, Sweden’s Frida Anderson and horse Box Leo sail over a jump featuring the six-sided badges symbolizing each sport, laid out in a honeycomb-like design. The equestrian jumping pictogram is in the middle of the second row on the left, with four horse heads surrounding two fences in the center.
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Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Tokyo Ensō
While many of the designs have themes tied to Paris, some nod back to past host cities. This jump, shown with the Czech team of Miroslav Trunda and horse Shutterflyke, incorporates Japanese calligraphy in an homage to Tokyo. The ensō or circle is usually painted in one continuous brushstroke and symbolizes wholeness and completion.
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PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/Getty Images
Tokyo Wave
France’s Simon Delestre and horse I Amelusina R 51 might have worried for a moment they’d made a wrong turn and wound up at the surfing competition in Tahiti instead. In another nod to Tokyo, this jump represents The Great Wave, a famous piece painted by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai between 1829 and 1832.
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Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Colonnes Morris
Stroll around Paris streets, and you’ll see plenty of these pointy-topped advertising structures. They’re called Morris Columns in English and are often covered with flyers promoting shows, movies, and other events and products. (We’re guessing Team Belgium’s Karin Donckers, who’s riding horse Leipheimer Van ’T Verahof here, isn’t pausing to check out the latest listings.) They’re named for Gabriel Morris, a French painter and typographer who introduced them in 1868.
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Stephen McCarthy/Getty Images
Tour Eiffel
Of course, no Paris-themed course would be complete without a mini Eiffel Tower, though this one is missing the Olympic rings currently installed on the real tower. And instead of Celine Dion, who sang from the top of the tower during the opening ceremony, that’s Kim Emmen of Team Netherlands on Imagine again.
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Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Los Angeles 2028
Cindy Kuzma is a freelance writer who covers running and other sports, fitness, and health. She received an M.S. in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and is certified as a running coach by the Road Runners Club of America and USA Track & Field (Level 1)…. Read more
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