BORN TO RIDE
Springsteen daughter out to revive USA’s glory days
THE daughter of rock star Bruce Springsteen plans to show that she can be the boss at these Tokyo Olympics.
Born in the USA, 29-year-old Jessica now has the chance to represent them in showjumping.
“Been dreaming of this since I can remember,” Bruce’s middle child said after winning selection aboard her 12-year-old stallion, Don Juan van de Donkhoeve.
The Americans will hope she can restore the glory days of 2004 and 2008, when they took gold in the team jumping event.
Proud dad Bruce always believed Jessica was tougher than the rest, once saying of her career choice: “Musicians always get to sing it again, riders get one shot. That is a tough lesson in life.”
Springsteen grew up on the family’s New Jersey estate, where she started riding at four and was given her first pony two years later.
“We had a really grounded upbringing,” she told CNN. “And it was nice that I always had riding to focus on and have something a little bit for myself.”
She was a reserve for the 2012 London Olympics and missed out altogether in Rio four years later.
But inspired by the legendary work ethic of her dad and fellow musician mum Patti Scialfa, she refused to give up the fight.
“They were always able to motivate me and make me realise how special it is to have found my passion at a young age,” said Jessica.
She revealed just how thrilled her parents were when it was revealed she was going to Tokyo.
Jessica told TODAY: “They were so excited. They’ve supported me since I was little.
“This has been a huge dream of mine and the sport has become such a passion for them as well.
“I feel like we’ve been on this journey together, so they were just so happy.”
Up against Springsteen will be Holly Smith, the first female selected to the British jumping team since 1976.
Smith joins London 2012 team gold medallists Scott Brash and Ben Maher in Tokyo with quite an act to follow as Nick Skelton won Britain’s first individual showjumping gold medal in Rio. At 58 he became the nation’s oldest Olympic champion in any sport for 108 years before retiring in 2017.