Aachen, Germany – Sixteen-year-old JJ Torano (Wellington, Fla.) made a storybook debut in Aachen’s main stadium by winning the STAWAG-Prize CSIY for Young Riders aboard Lyon 50 during the 2026 FEI World Championships hosted in Aachen, Germany, and running through August 23, 2026.
“That was so much fun,” mused Torano after his round. “There's no better place to win than Aachen. When we heard about this opportunity [to compete during the FEI World Championships], obviously we jumped at it.”
Future greats of show jumping compete in Aachen this week alongside the FEI World Championships, an opportunity that Torano seized the moment he and Lyon 50 set foot on the iconic grass field.
“It's a different feeling than any other ring, and I was a little nervous, but he's an unbelievable horse and was with me for every stride out there,” said Torano, of his partner, a 2014 Hanoverian stallion (Lord Argentinus x Lex Lugar) owned by Kadley Farms LLC and North Run.
Torano is one of 39 of the world’s best Young Riders competing in Aachen, and left his mark on day one. He took the win by less than a half second over Germany’s Max Paschertz. Their winning time clocked in at 63.96 seconds to Paschertz’s 64.43.
“Whatever the challenge, he rises to it and gives it his all,” continued Torano of Lyon 50, the horse he has had the ride on for two years. “He has a huge heart, and he also wants to win.”
As he reflected back on the experience of hearing the U.S. National Anthem ring out across the Aachen stadium, Torano said, “I think the prize giving and victory lap was almost more fun than actually jumping. The crowd, the atmosphere—it’s amazing out there. It’s such a great opportunity.”
Torano will next face the Prize of Sparkasse Speed at 4:15 p.m. GMT+2/10:15 a.m. EST. on Saturday before the NetAachen-Prize Grand Prix at 10:30 a.m. GMT+2/4:30 a.m. EST on Sunday.
Complete Results
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