Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian has announced the nomination of show jumping athlete Mattie Hatcher to represent the United States at the Summer Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018, to be held October 6-18, pending final approval from the United States Olympic Committee.  

As one of the two highest placing nations in the Individual Final at the 2017 North American Junior Championship, the United States earned qualification of one show jumping athlete to the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. Hatcher, (Little Rock, Ark.) along with one athlete from Mexico, Haiti, Honduras, and Panama, will compete on the five-member North American show jumping team. They will compete against five teams from nations in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and South America. Athletes will compete with borrowed horses on courses including jumps up to 1.30m in height and medals will be awarded in team and individual competition. 

Hatcher recently represented the United States on the Junior Nations Cup Team at the Langley Odlum Brown BC Open with Cristiano. She and her eight-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding jumped a clear second round, leading to a jump-off, which resulted in a gold medal for the team. Hatcher was also a part of the Zone 7 gold-medal team at the 2017 Adequan®/FEI North American Youth Championships presented by Gotham North. 

The third edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games will feature 32 sports, bringing approximately 4,000 young athletes, ages 15 to 18, from 206 nations together. Like the Olympic Games, athletes will participate in Opening and Closing ceremonies and live in the Youth Olympic Games Village.

View more information about the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

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