Equestrian events—including show jumping, eventing, and dressage—showed the impressive strength and gentlemanly grace of both humans and horses at the Olympics. Although Japan did not secure a medal, the performances were remarkable.
There was much talk about obstacle design, but another interesting story was that of the daughter of a famous American rock singer competing as a show jumping athlete representing the USA.
This singer is none other than Bruce Springsteen. Here, we introduce Bruce Springsteen, his daughter Jessica Springsteen, her results in show jumping, and more.
Who is Bruce Springsteen?
Are you familiar with Bruce Springsteen? The American rock singer, known for songs that voice the concerns of workers and youth, has become a prominent figure in the American rock scene, earning widespread support.
Although now regarded as a rock icon, early in his career he was called the ‘second Dylan’ and was treated as a singer-songwriter. However, he was passionate about rock music, and his activities initially faced some internal conflict.
Springsteen’s breakthrough came with his second album, ‘The Promised Land,’ and the popularity of his live performances during that period. Music critic John Landau famously praised him as having ‘seen the future of rock and roll,’ leading to Landau being brought on as a producer.
His fifth album, ‘The River,’ released in 1980, topped the charts for the first time. Over the years, he continued to release successful works and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
He has received numerous awards, including the Golden Globe for Best Original Song in 2009, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, and a Tony Award for Broadway in 2018. Springsteen has also performed in Japan at venues such as Yoyogi National Stadium, Osaka-jō Hall, Tokyo Dome, and the Tokyo International Forum.
He is married to Julianne Phillips since 1985. They have three children: a son who hosts a radio show on XR Radio, a younger son who is a firefighter, and daughter Jessica Springsteen, an Olympic equestrian athlete.
About Jessica Springsteen
Jessica Springsteen, the youngest member of the US show jumping team, participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and won a silver medal. What kind of person is she?
She is the middle of three siblings, with an older brother and younger brother. Due to her parents’ fame as a rock singer and model, she moved from Los Angeles to New Jersey in childhood to avoid paparazzi. She grew up on a farm on the East Coast surrounded by numerous animals, including horses, goats, pigs, and ostriches, which sparked her interest in riding and became the first step toward becoming an equestrian athlete.
While studying psychology at Duke University in 2012, she was selected as an alternate for the London Olympics. After graduating in 2015, she pursued show jumping and modeling, actively participating in various competitions with the goal of competing in the Olympics.
Although she had a chance to compete in the 2016 Olympics, her horse was injured, and she was unable to participate. For Jessica, who started riding at age 4, competing in the Olympics has been a long-held dream, and this was her first appearance at the Games.
Before securing her spot on the US team, she competed against many other talented children of famous parents, including children of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Michael Bloomberg, and Steven Spielberg, some of whom also participated in equestrian sports.
Jessica became the youngest athlete representing the US in equestrian at Tokyo 2020. In show jumping, experience often outweighs youth, and many top riders are in their 40s or 50s. American riders frequently include athletes in their 50s, and some Japanese riders are also in their 30s or 40s; Jessica, in her 20s, is considered both talented and promising.
Her Results at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Jessica Springsteen participated in the individual jumping qualifiers, team qualifiers, and team finals at the equestrian events held at the Tokyo Olympic Equestrian Park. In the individual qualifiers, she finished 31st with a time of 87.15, 4 faults, and 4 penalty points, and did not advance.
In the team event, she competed alongside Laura Kraut and McLaren Ward. The team finished the qualifiers in fifth place with Jessica posting a time of 80.67, 4 faults; Laura Kraut with 80.78, 4 faults; and McLaren Ward with 83.03, 1 over time penalty and 4 faults, qualifying for the finals.
In the team final, Jessica clocked a time of 78.89 with 4 faults, while Laura and McLaren finished with times of 79.33 and 78.98, respectively. The teams from the USA and Sweden tied, leading to a jump-off, a tie-breaking competition with fewer obstacles to decide the winner.
During the jump-off, Jessica achieved a time of 42.95, ending in second place and earning a silver medal. The medal tally for the team competition was gold for Sweden, silver for the USA, and bronze for Belgium.
Summary
It is remarkable how many children of famous people in the US compete in equestrian sports, and their star-studded lineups are impressive.
Jessica Springsteen, the youngest member of the US team, participated in the Olympics, and many might have seen her compete live. Her high level of skill and the beauty of riding continue to fascinate many.
While the name Bruce Springsteen immediately draws attention, her athleticism and her appearance are also highly captivating. Her success at the Olympics surely brought pride to her father, Bruce Springsteen. If you had a chance to watch her in Japan, you could have cheered for her at the venue.