Behind the Camera – “Finding the Balance” with Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli

In Rising Above: Episode 5 “Finding the Balance” presented by Longines, we learn the inspiring story of Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli. She explains the struggle to balance life as a mother with her career as one of the world’s top show jumpers. We sat down with Zanotelli to learn more about her journey to find the right balance in her life to remain at the top of the sport.

Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli's life has always been dedicated to horses. First taking up riding in her native Sweden, before moving to Germany to further pursue her career at 18, Zanotelli rose through the ranks of show jumping to emerge as one of the sport’s top talents and a regular fixture at elite competitions. “Before I had kids, my life was only horses,” says Zanotelli, “I am a little but the type of person who always wants to do things myself. And I put a lot of pressure on myself that whatever I am doing I want to be good at it.”

After having her first child, Zanotelli detailed how difficult it was to get back to the top of the sport. When asked if it ever crossed her mind to give up the sport, Zanotelli explained, “it did cross my mind. After the pregnancies I was questioning myself if I had enough, if I was good enough. And at that time, I was just thinking maybe I should just give up and stop with this.” When her doubt was at its worst, it was Zanotelli’s incredible support system that helped her return to the pinnacle of the sport.  

When doubt crept in about whether she was ready to return to the top level, Zanotelli said “[my husband] Marlon was very good because he was pushing me, in a good way.” Going on to say, “he was pushing me saying ‘yes you can’ and always convincing me. He knows me so well. He knew I was ready, and he gave me the little push.” Zanotelli explained it's due to this support from her family that she was able to find a balance to be both the best mother and best competitor she can be. “I am first a mom, and then I do the sport. And that’s something I try really hard to keep like that,” she says, “I had to learn when I had children, that I don’t have time to do everything.” Zannotelli went on to tell us, “I am very lucky because my husband’s parents are with us at the shows, so they help us with the children. It’s always important, your team around you. And Marlon’s mom is the one who helps me while I am on the horse and then I know when I ride, the children are in the best hands.”

“Everybody wants to be the perfect mom,” says Zanotelli. “For sure to do the sport on the highest level and have three kids is not easy. But sometimes I think easy is quite boring,” she says with a smile. She tells us that before her journey, “I didn’t think you could do both, I thought you had to choose. But it's definitely possible, more than possible.” It’s through the support of her family that Zanotelli was able to find what had once seemed an impossible balance in her life, motherhood and her career, as we learned in ‘Finding the Balance’, now available to stream on all of LGCT’s social channels.

Next week, we sit down with Swiss rider Edouard Schmitz to learn about his journey into the world of show jumping in Rising Above: Episode 6 “Becoming an Insider.” This eight-episode series has quickly become a must-watch for equestrian enthusiasts and sports fans alike, offering an intimate look at the lives and careers of the top show jumpers in the world. 

Rising Above: Episode 6 “Becoming and Insider” presented by Longines premiers September 10th at 8pm CET.