Julia first rode a Shetland pony at age three on a farm near Luhmühlen, Germany. By age five, her parents had bought an old farmhouse and set up a small stud farm. She started eventing on ponies at age eight and switched to horses at 14.

Club and Coaching

She is associated with RFV Lingen in Germany. Her national coach is Peter Thomsen. Julia's training regime includes Freeletics, CrossFit, and weight training. She works out two or three times a week in winter and once or twice a week during summer.

Memorable Achievements

Julia's most memorable sporting achievement is winning gold in the individual competition at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. This victory made her the first female rider to win a gold medal in individual eventing at the Olympic Games.

Superstitions and Beliefs

She has a bracelet with the name of her horse, Samourai du Thot, on it. Julia's sporting philosophy includes quotes like "If you can dream it, you can do it" and "The trick is to get up one more time than you are knocked over."

Awards and Honours

Julia was presented with the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (Silver Laurel Leaf) in 2021 and 2016. This honour is the highest sports award in Germany.

Family Background

Her sisters Greta and Clara have also competed in eventing at an elite level.

Horse Change and Olympic Gold

In early 2021, Julia considered missing the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics after retiring her horse Samourai du Thot due to an eye infection. She replaced her horse with Amande de B'Neville (Mandy) and went on to win gold in individual eventing at the Games.

"When it's difficult I take my strength from working with the horses," she said. "Sitting here with the gold medal wasn't anything in my wildest dreams."

Other Activities

Julia has worked as a national coach in junior eventing and is also a fully qualified groom. She once said she never wanted to be a professional rider because it's hard to earn money as an event rider in Germany.

"There are only a very few who can do it and make a living from it," she noted. "Normally they are not just riding but also selling and training."

Julia Krajewski continues to inspire many with her dedication to equestrian sports and her achievements on both national and international stages.