Kevin Staut, born on November 15, 1980, near Versailles, France, is a celebrated figure in the world of show jumping. His journey in equestrian sports began with a victory at the French Junior Championships in Le Touquet in 1995.
Since then, he has accumulated a remarkable array of achievements across his career, earning medals at the Show Jumping French Junior Championships, Show Jumping European Championships for Young Riders, and both European and World Championships. Staut made his Olympic debut in 2012 at the London Games, where he contributed to France's success, securing a gold medal in team jumping.
Beyond his accolades in the arena, Staut is recognized for his humanitarian work and leadership within the equestrian community, being the first athlete appointed to the FEI executive board and serving as an ambassador for JustWorld International, which supports underprivileged children around the globe.
Performance Overview (2019–2023)
In the past five years, Kevin Staut has continued to demonstrate exceptional skill and consistency in international competitions. His performance metrics from 2019 to 2023 highlight both his resilience and technical ability in the sport of show jumping:
- Earnings: Staut accumulated a total of $1,876,607 in winnings.
- Competitions: He competed in 1,088 events across various international circuits.
- Victories: Out of these starts, he achieved 12 victories, representing a win percentage of 1.10%.
- Top 3 Finishes: He secured 71 podium finishes, equating to a top 3 percentage of 6.53%.
- Round Scores: Staut maintained an average round score of 3.65, with a jump-off score of 2.15.
- Clearance Rates: His round clear percentage stood at 42.11%, with jump-off clears at 57.41%.
- Time Faults: His time fault rate was relatively low, at 1.78%.
Data sourced from Prixview
Fault Analysis
A detailed analysis of Staut’s faults between 2019 and 2023 offers valuable insights into his performance under various conditions:
- Obstacle Faults: The most challenging obstacles for Staut were plank verticals (11.76% fault rate) and skinny plank verticals (12.50%). Conversely, he demonstrated stronger performance on triple bars (3.62% faults) and skinny oxers (2.44%).
- Faults by Contact Point: Most of his faults occurred at the horse’s front (49.44%), followed by the hind (38.48%).
- Faults by Lead: Left-lead faults were slightly more prevalent at 48.03%, compared to right-lead faults (42.13%).
- Combination Faults: 41.29% of Staut’s faults occurred in combinations, with 'A' components accounting for 48.30% of these and 'B' components for 38.10%.
- Surface and Arena Type: Staut experienced higher fault rates indoors (6.18%) compared to outdoor arenas (4.67%). On different surfaces, his fault rate was higher on grass (5.79%) versus sand (4.87%).
2023 Performance Breakdown (1.55m–1.70m Competitions)
In 2023, Kevin Staut continued to compete at the highest level, showcasing his skill across numerous international competitions:
- Key Wins: Staut secured major victories in Stuttgart (Germany) and Helsinki (Finland) aboard Beau de Laubry Z. His exceptional performance in these events included two clear rounds with times of 41.78 and 35.70 seconds, respectively.
- Consistent Top-10 Finishes: Throughout 2023, Staut consistently placed within the top 10 in multiple competitions, proving his adaptability across various courses and conditions.
- Challenges Faced: Despite his strong performances, Staut encountered some variability, including eliminations or lower rankings in certain events, reflecting the inherent challenges of elite-level show jumping.
Conclusion
Kevin Staut's performance over the past five years solidifies his reputation as one of the top show jumpers in the world. His technical skill, consistent results, and ability to compete at the highest levels of the sport make him a standout competitor. Beyond his competitive achievements, Staut continues to make a significant impact through his work as a humanitarian and equestrian advocate. His involvement in the equestrian community, both on and off the field, underscores his dedication to the sport and to using his platform for positive change.