Marcela Krinke-Susmelj

Marcela Krinke-Susmelj (18 October 1965 – 17 July 2024) was a Czechoslovak-born Swiss Olympic dressage rider. She participated at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she placed 24th in the individual competition.

Krinke-Susmelj competed at three editions of World Equestrian Games (2006, 2010 and 2014), six European Dressage Championships (2005, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017) and four World Cup Finals (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017). Her best championship results were two 8th places in team dressage competitions (from the 2005 Europeans and the 2006 Worlds), while her best individual result is 11th place in freestyle dressage from the 2010 World Equestrian Games.

Biography Marcela Krinke was born 18 October 1965 in Vlašim, Czechoslovakia. She and her parents fled the country to Switzerland in 1968 during the Soviet invasion of the country.

In 1996, Marcela and Ivan established the Rotsee Riding Center, and Marcela focused on riding and training full time.

In 2010, Krinke-Susmelj acquired the ride on Atterupgaards Molberg, a Danish warmblood with whom the pair would become one of Switzerland's most successful dressage competitors. Together, the pair were champions at the Swiss Grand Prix Championships in 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2017. Krinke-Susmelj and Atterupgaards Molberg would go to the 2016 Summer Olympics and represent Switzerland at the 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017 World Cup Finals.

Krinke-Susmelj was notable at the time for being the only Swiss dressage rider on the international stage. At the time of her appearance at the 2013 World Cup Finals, no Swiss horse and riding pairing had made it to the Grand Prix finals for a decade. At the time of her appearance in Rio at the 2016 Summer Olympics, no Swiss horse-rider dressage pairing had reached the games in twelve years.

Despite qualifying, Krinke-Susmelj did not ride Atterupgaards Molberg at the 2018 World Cup Finals. At the time, she said she did not want to ask too much of her 17-year-old Olympic horse.

Later life Krinke-Susmelj was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease in 2019 and was forced to retire at the age of 54. She and her husband Ivan Susmelj had two children who now run their Rotsee Riding Centre.

Personal bests

+Personal bests Event Score Horse Venue Date Grand Prix 74.260 Molberg Lyon, France 29 October 2015 Grand Prix Special 74.874 Molberg Caen, France 27 August 2014 Grand Prix Freestyle 78.000 Molberg Lyon, France 30 October 2015