Íñigo Beyond Limits: The Dream of Bringing Monaco to the European Championships 

Íñigo López de la Osa Franco on the verge of securing Monaco’s first-ever qualification for the European Show Jumping Championships 

There is no blueprint to follow, no precedent to draw inspiration from. Only an idea that, in Íñigo López de la Osa Franco’s mind, has turned into a tangible project: to raise the Monegasque flag for the first time in a senior continental show jumping championship. 

Born to a Spanish father and an Italian mother, the 21-year-old initially represented Spain in youth Nations Cups before accepting the Monaco Olympic Committee’s proposal to ride under the Principality’s flag. He competed in the 2021 Junior European Championship and the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Young Rider European Championships. Meanwhile, with meticulous planning, he has embarked on the qualification journey for the 2025 European Show Jumping Championship, set to take place in La Coruña from July 16 to 20, 2025. 

The final steps toward this goal may take place under the guidance of French star Simon Delestre, on French soil, during the CSI in Saint-Tropez (March 13-16) and the prestigious Saut Hermès at the Grand Palais in Paris (March 20-23). 

The 2025 season began with a brilliant debut in the Global Champions League. Despite his young age, Íñigo has tackled the circuit—often referred to as the Formula 1 of show jumping—with remarkable composure. “Competing against the greatest riders is not a challenge to fear but an opportunity to grow as an athlete and a true horseman. This circuit, designed for the best horse-and-rider combinations in the world, will allow me to learn as much as possible from those who have already written the history of this sport,” he stated. 

In fact, he has already made history: Íñigo is the first Monegasque rider ever selected by Jan Tops, the Global Champions League’s patron, to join the League.

Daniela Cursi 

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