Sport | Longines
Longines - welcomes show jumping champion Christian Kukuk to its equestrian athletes team
| 2026-02-19 |     |
Longines is proud to announce Christian Kukuk, one of the world’s leading show jumping riders, as its newest equestrian athlete. An internationally acclaimed champion, Christian’s journey reflects the values that define the Swiss watch brand.
‘I am honoured to be named a Longines Athlete. The brand has a long history with equestrian sports and its commitment to precision, elegance and performance resonates deeply with me. It’s a privilege to represent these values,’ reflects Christian Kukuk.
Christian Kukuk’s path to equestrian excellence began at age 13. Born into a family deeply rooted in the sport—his grandfather a true expert in the dressage world, his father a successful rider, and his mother working for the German Olympic Committee for Equestrian Sports— Christian’s passion for horses quickly took hold. He trained under his mother before joining Ludger Beerbaum’s prestigious stable in Riesenbeck, Germany, where he refined his skills and rose to the top of international show jumping.
His breakthrough occurred in 2018 with standout performances in the Longines Global Champions Tour and the Global Champions League. Known for his analytical mindset and calm under pressure, Christian Kukuk quickly earned a reputation for consistency and excellence.
A defining moment in his career came at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where he and his grey gelding Checker delivered a historic clear round to secure the individual gold medal.
In 2025, Christian continued to impress, winning several 5-star events and contributing to Germany’s podium finishes in the Longines League of Nations TM and in the Longines FEI Jumping European Championship. Now 35, he has launched his own stable after more than ten years working for Ludger Beerbaum.
‘Christian Kukuk’s career reflects the very essence of our brand, a constant pursuit of precision, performance, and elegance. At Longines, we believe that true elegance goes beyond appearance: it is a way of being, a mindset. Christian captures this spirit in everything he does, and we are proud to welcome him to our team of equestrian athletes,’ says Patrick Aoun, President & CEO of Longines.
Christian’s appointment reinforces Longines’ long-standing commitment to the equestrian world, a bond that dates back more than 150 years. He joins a team of top riders, including show jumping athletes Édouard Schmitz, Bryan Balsiger, and Jane Richard, as well as dressage champions Sönke Rothenberger, Semmieke Rothenberger, Sabine Schut-Kery, and Patrik Kittel.
Longines and the Equestrian World
Longines and the equestrian world have always maintained close ties, with unwavering passion and the shared values of tradition, elegance, performance and the quest for achievement. Longines’ involvement in equestrian sports goes back to 1869, when the brand produced its first-ever pocket watch with an equestrian motif. In 1878, Longines developed its first chronograph movement, driven by a single push-piece integrated into the winding crown and carefully mounted in a case engraved with a jockey and his horse. Longines’ name soon became associated with sports timekeeping. Since 1912, the year when it first supported a showjumping competition, Longines has been a partner of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events. Today, on the strength of its credentials and expertise, Longines' involvement in equestrian sports extends to showjumping, dressage, eventing and flat racing.
About Longines
Longines has been based in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, since 1832. The watchmaking house boasts expertise forged in tradition, elegance, and high performance. With its long-standing experience as official timekeeper of world sports championships and partner of international sports federations, the Swiss watch brand has forged strong and lasting links with the sporting world over the years. Renowned for the elegance of its models, Longines is a member of Swatch Group Ltd, the world’s leading manufacturer of timepieces. The brand with the winged hourglass as its emblem has outlets in over 130 countries.