Max Kühner
{{short description|Austrian equestrian}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Max Kühner
| image = 2018-05-20 Max Kühner auf Alfa Jordan-9052.jpg
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| alt = Head-and-shoulders image of equestrian Max Kühner facing the camera
| caption = Kühner in 2018
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| nationality = Austrian, German
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|1|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Munich, Germany
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| spouse = Liv Kühner (dressage rider)
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| country = {{AUT}}(since 2015)
{{DEU }}(2009-2015)
| sport = show-jumping
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| worlds = Tryon 2018
Herning 2022
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Max Kühner (born 15 January 1974 in München, Germany) is a German-born Austrian show-jumping rider.{{Cite web |url=https://www.fei.org/athlete/10002263/KUHNER-Max |title=Max Kühner |publisher=fei.org |accessdate=2 July 2024}} He represented Austria at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina and the 2022 FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark, where he finished 12th in the team and 6th in the individual competition. He has represented Austria at five European Show Jumping Championships and five FEI World Cup Finals. He is currently the highest ranked Austrian show-jumper,{{Cite web |url=https://www.malgretoutmedia.com/professional/portrait-max-kuhner-austrias-star-from-germany/ |title=Portrait: Max Kühner, Austria's star from Germany |publisher=Malgré Tout Media |first=André|last=Bergh-Rommedahl|date=January 13, 2022}} and rated third internationally.{{Cite web |last=sportschau.de |title="Aktives Barren"?: Vorwurf der Tierquälerei - Strafbefehl gegen Springreiter Max Kühner |url=https://www.sportschau.de/olympia/aktives-barren-strafbefehl-gegen-springreiter-max-kuehner,olympia-paris-reiten-106.html |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=sportschau.de |language=de}}
Show jumping career
Kühner trains and lives in Starnberg, Germany.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-25 |title=Olympia 2024: Tierquälerei-Vorwurf gegen Springreiter Max Kühner |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/sport/olympia/olympia-2024-tierquaelerei-vorwurf-gegen-springreiter-max-kuehner-19878340.html |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=FAZ.NET |language=de}} In 2009, he was selected to compete for Germany at the World Cup Final in Las Vegas, but had to withdraw prior to competition.{{Cite web |title=Max Kuhner Withdraws - The Chronicle of the Horse |url=https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/max-kuhner-withdraws/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |language=en-US}} In 2015, he obtained Austrian citizenship to allow himself a better chance at competing for a national team.{{Cite web |title=Österreichs Springreiter Max Kühner wird Verstoß gegen Tierschutzgesetz vorgeworfen |url=https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000229938/oesterreichs-springreiter-max-kuehner-wird-verstoss-gegen-tierschutzgesetz-vorgeworfen |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=DER STANDARD |language=de-AT}}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-17 |title=Aus Hadorf zu den Olympischen Spielen 2024: Ein Besuch auf der Anlage von Springreiter Max Kühner |url=https://www.merkur.de/sport/lokalsport/starnberg/pferd-oesterreich-von-hadorf-zu-den-olympischen-spielen-olympia-2024-paris-max-kuehner-reiten-springreiten-starnberg-anlage-hof-elektric-blue-92835030.html |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=www.merkur.de |language=de}}
= 2024 season =
At the 2024 show jumping world cup competition in Basel, Kühner placed third.{{Cite web |last=Rejlek |first=Julia |date=2024-01-14 |title=Max Kühner sichert sich Rang drei im Weltcup-Springen von Basel |url=https://eqwo.net/max-kuehner-sichert-sich-rang-drei-im-weltcup-springen-von-basel/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Equestrian Worldwide {{!}} Pferdesport weltweit {{!}} EQWO.net |language=de-DE}} At the Show Jumping World Cup final in Riyadh, Kühner competed on two horses, and placed seventh in the world cup rankings.{{Cite web |last=Rejlek |first=Julia |date=2024-04-21 |title=Riyadh: Henrik von Eckermann verteidigt Weltcup-Titel, Max Kühner holt ex aequo Tagessieg |url=https://eqwo.net/riyadh-henrik-von-eckermann-verteidigt-weltcup-titel-max-kuehner-holt-ex-aequo-tagessieg/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Equestrian Worldwide {{!}} Pferdesport weltweit {{!}} EQWO.net |language=de-DE}}{{Cite web |last=Haidvogel |first=Julia |date=2024-05-09 |title=Weltrangliste Springen: Max Kühner auf Rang 7 |url=https://eqwo.net/weltrangliste-springen-max-kuehner-auf-rang-7/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Equestrian Worldwide {{!}} Pferdesport weltweit {{!}} EQWO.net |language=de-DE}} At the Nations Cup in June, Kühner and the Austrian team placed sixth.{{Cite web |last=Comité |first=Österreichisches Olympisches |title=Hiobsbotschaft für Kühner |url=https://www.olympia.at/news/hiobsbotschaft-fuer-kuehner/40230 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Österreichisches Olympisches Comité |language=de}}
In 2024, Kühner was selected by the Austrian Equestrian Federation to represent the Austrian team at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.{{Cite web |url=https://www.oeps.at/de/aktuelles/oeps-ominierungsvorschlag-paris-wir-kommen |title=OEPS-NOMINIERUNGSVORSCHLAG: PARIS, WIR KOMMEN! |publisher=OEPS |date=2 July 2024|language=German}} He placed 7th individually in the competition, after dropping a rail at the final obstacle.{{Cite web |title=Max Kühner geht im Finale der Springreiter leer aus |url=https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000231365/max-kuehner-geht-im-springreiterfinale-leer-aus |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=DER STANDARD |language=de-AT}}{{Cite web |last=Comité |first=Österreichisches Olympisches |title="Möchte etwas mitnehmen" |url=https://www.olympia.at/news/moechte-etwas-mitnehmen/41781 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Österreichisches Olympisches Comité |language=de}}
= Injuries =
In 2019, Kühner broke his shoulder while competing in La Baule.{{Cite web |title=Max Kühner injured |url=https://equnews.com/article/australia/max-kuhner-injured |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Equnews International |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Showjumping |first=www worldofshowjumping com, World of |title=Max Kühner out with injury |url=https://www.worldofshowjumping.com/en/News/Max-Kuehner-out-with-injury.html |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=www.worldofshowjumping.com |language=en-US}} After eight weeks of recovery, he returned to ride in the European Championships in Rotterdam.
In June 2024, he broke his hand while competing in the Nations Cup round in Sopot, Poland.{{Cite web |last=kronesport |date=2024-06-14 |title=Kühner suffers hand fracture during Olympic preparations! |url=https://www.krone.at/3418660 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Kronen Zeitung |language=en}} He was unable to continue the competition,{{Cite web |last=Rejlek |first=Julia |date=2024-06-14 |title=Schock! Max Kühner bricht sich in Sopot die Hand |url=https://eqwo.net/schock-max-kuehner-bricht-sich-in-sopot-die-hand/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Equestrian Worldwide {{!}} Pferdesport weltweit {{!}} EQWO.net |language=de-DE}} but recovered in time to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris six weeks later.
= Animal cruelty allegations =
In 2008 Kühner was cited by the Bavarian Riding and Driving Association for allegations of animal cruelty.{{Cite web |date=2008-12-03 |title=Verfahren gegen Max Kühner eingestellt - |url=https://www.st-georg.de/sport/verfahren-gegen-max-kuehner-eingestellt-2/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=St.GEORG}} A subsequent disciplinary commission criticized his training practices, but did not find evidence of guilt. Afterwards, Kühner claimed the case was brought forward by a disgruntled associate for revenge.{{Cite web |last=Abendzeitung |date=2009-03-28 |title="Feng Shui für Pferde" |url=https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/sport/feng-shui-fuer-pferde-art-93680 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de |language=de}}
In 2023, a whistleblower raised concerns about Kühner's training practices,{{Cite web |date=2024-07-25 |title=Olympia: Skandal um Springreiter Max Kühner – Tierschutz-Vorwürfe! |url=https://www.sport1.de/news/olympia/2024/07/tierschutzgesetz-justiz-ermittelt-gegen-springreiter-kuhner |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=SPORT1 |language=de}}{{Cite web |last=florian.plavec |date=2024-08-01 |title=Tierquälerei? Springreiter Kühner wehrt sich gegen die Vorwürfe |url=https://kurier.at/sport/olympia-springreiten-tierquaelerei-kuehner-vorwuerfe-aktives-barren/402931134 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=kurier.at |language=de}} and his facilities were searched by the police. A penal order was issued in March 2024,{{Cite web |title=Aktives Barren? Strafbefehl gegen Springreiter Max Kühner |url=https://www.tageblatt.de/Nachrichten/Aktives-Barren-Strafbefehl-gegen-Springreiter-Max-Kuehner-588780.html |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Tageblatt.de |language=de}} with a hearing scheduled in September 2024. In July 2024, PETA Germany filed a criminal complaint against Kühner with Munich's public prosecutor and released a report questioning his inclusion at the Olympic games.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-23 |title=Max Kühner: Tierquäler bei den Olympischen Spielen 2024? |url=https://www.peta.de/themen/max-kuehner/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=PETA Deutschland e.V. |language=de-DE}} Kühner filed an appeal in response. Kühner denied the allegations, suggesting the report by PETA was spread deliberately before the games.{{Cite web |title=Springreiter Max Kühner bestreitet Verstoß gegen Tierschutzgesetze |url=https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000230514/springreiter-max-kuehner-bestreitet-verstoss-gegen-tierschutzgesetze |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=DER STANDARD |language=de-AT}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{FEI|10002263}}
- {{Olympics.com|max-kuehner}}
- {{Team Austria|max-kuehner/3256}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kühner, Max}}
Category:Austrian male equestrians
Category:Equestrians at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic equestrians for Austria
Category:Sportspeople from Munich
Category:Austrian people of German descent
Category:Animal cruelty incidents