Cyprus: Cyprus is set to make history in equestrian sports following the Cyprus Olympic Committee's (KOE) decision to participate for the first time in the 20th Mediterranean Games, "Taranto 2026," featuring athlete Alexa Stais in the Jumping event with her mare, Kantu.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the official International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) schedule, the jumping events will take place on August 30 with the team final-which also serves as an individual qualifier-followed by the individual final classification on September 1.
A KOE announcement highlighted that Stais, who competes professionally in Germany, represents one of the most prominent figures in Cypriot equestrian sports internationally.
Stais expressed optimism ahead of traveling to Italy, stating her aim is to contend for a medal. 'In our sport, anything can happen, but I have complete trust in my horse and our partnership. My goal is to give her the best ride possible and achieve a result that makes Cyprus proud,' she noted.
Cyprus Equestrian Federation President Antonis Petri welcomed the historic milestone, calling the nation's debut appearance a major success. He emphasized that competing in a major multi-sport event significantly boosts the sport's visibility and opens new development pathways for Cypriot riders.
Kantu, a nine-year-old mare with top-tier international competition experience, will travel to Taranto by road from Germany with a groom, coordinated by KOE and the national federation.
Stais shares a deep personal connection with Cyprus through her Cypriot grandfather. Raised in South Africa, she has worked with horses from an early age before moving to Germany, where she has been based for over a decade. She currently rides for Paul Schockem¶hle and previously represented Cyprus at the 2025 European Showjumping Championships.