NBC Olympic statistician Catie Staszak talks Snoop Dogg and all things equestrian for Paris
NBC Olympic equestrian statistician Catie Staszak, went live with some predictions and storylines for the Paris Olympics for Just World International charity’s first webinar.
Among the storylines she’s been gathering is the fact that Laura Kraut, herself a huge supporter of Just World’s mission, will be competing at the Olympics – aboard Baloutinue – this time as a grandmother. “Laura competed in her first Olympics 20 years ago,” said Catie. “This time she will be – obviously a very young – grandmother at the Games, and she has also said she wants a second gold medal, to match the two that her partner, Nick Skelton has.”
There are also emotive stories. “At least two horses in eventing at the Olympics are being ridden in memory of former riders,” she said. USA’s Boyd Martin is part of this storyline, competing aboard Federman B for Annie Goodwin, a former rider of the horse, who died in a riding accident in 2021. Boyd took over the partnership with the gelding at the request of Annie’s parents and fiancé, taking to Facebook to say that: “It’s an honor and a privilege, to ride Annie Goodwin’s Bruno.”
On a lighter side, NBC Olympic commentators in Paris will be joined by American Rapper and film star, Snoop Dogg, as a special correspondent when the Games get underway on July 26. He is on a mission to meet one of his equestrian idols – US Steffen Peters’ dressage horse, Suppenkasper aka ‘Mopsie’ who caught Snoop Dogg’s eye at the Tokyo Olympics – causing the rapper to praise the horse for his ‘crip-walk.’ On a podcast for NBC with Kevin Hart, Snoop Dogg was impressed saying: “Oh, the horse crip-walking, cuh. You see that? On the set!”
More recently Snoop told Jimmy Fallon: “I gotta go meet him, you know what I’m saying?And let him know I’m a big fan. You know, the way you do when you meet your favorite person.”
For dressage, Catie’s medal predictions were pretty definitive. “I would be shocked if Germany didn’t finish top,” she said. The team lining up Jessica von Bredow Werndl aboard Dalera BB, Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD and Isabell Werth with Wendy will likely take most opposition from Great Britain featuring London team gold medalists, Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin joined by the talented and on-form Lottie Fry.
The Olympic equestrian team format has changed from four riders and an alternate to three and an alternate. Catie pointed out that this was done to make it easier to follow and “to keep our sport in the Olympics.” She hopes the coverage of the equestrian portion of the games with the stunning backdrop of the Palace of Versailles, will help newcomers appreciate the three disciplines of dressage, eventing and show jumping. “I would love to be able to reach out to someone that is watching at home and can listen to the story and say ‘Wow’ and become a fan of that horse and rider that they can latch on to and then maybe follow more of the sport,” she said.