Fares Azouni
| Fares Azouni | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 8, 2006 Amman, Jordan |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Canadian |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Height | 172 cm |
| 🌐 Website | faresazouni |
Fares Azouni (born August 8, 2006) is a Canadian show jumping athlete who has been competing internationally across Europe and the Middle East. He qualified for the 2022 FEI Youth Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, which was held as a replacement of the Youth Olympic Games which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] Fares has since continued to compete internationally at both youth and senior levels.[2]
Early life and education
Fares was born on August 8, 2006. He started riding as a hobby at the age of 6 and began competing in national and international show jumping events at the age of 13.[3]
Fares received his school education in Canada and the UAE before moving to Europe in 2024, where he is currently studying International Business Administration at Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Career
Fares began his show jumping career in Dubai, UAE. During his early competitive years, he spent his summers training and competing in Europe, primarily in Germany. As his involvement in the sport developed, he began training year-round between the Middle East and Europe, until he moved to the Netherlands to pursue his university studies while continuing his training and international competitions across Europe. Fares has trained under the mentorship of Dietmar Gugler in Germany, a prominent coach who previously led the German Youth Team.
By 2026, Fares had competed in more than 550 international competitions across Europe and the Middle East. One of his first major international achievements came through the FEI World Challenge Qualifier for the Youth Equestrian Games. Fares won first place and was ranked fourth in Asia, earning qualification for the 2022 FEI Youth Equestrian Games held in Aachen, Germany.[4]
Competitive career and achievements
Fares participated in the 2022 FEI Youth Equestrian Games in Aachen, competing among 30 young athletes from around the world. He was part of Team Asia, which finished fourth in the team competition.[5][6]
In the same year, Fares won the UAE Junior Championship and while still competing as a junior, he began entering senior international Grand Prix and FEI ranking classes, achieving placings at CSI2* and CSIO4* level.[7][8]
Since 2022, Fares has competed extensively across the Middle East and Europe and has continued to achieve podium finishes in national, regional and international competitions. At the Longines Future Global Champions in Valkenswaard in August 2024, he won first place in the 1.35m Young Riders class and finished seventh in the 1.50m Young Riders Grand Prix.[9]
In 2025, Fares competed in the European Youngster Cup (EY-Cup) in Salzburg, Austria, where he finished seventh among 35 riders competing at Under-25 level against young riders from across Europe.[10]
In August 2026, Fares returned to Aachen for the second time, competing in the CSIY-A event held along side the FEI World Championships the FEI World Championships.[11] He was part of the winning team in the team compeition and finished eighth individually in the 1.40m class.[12]
Returning to Aachen four years after his first appearance marked another important milestone in Fares's progression to higher levels of international show jumping.[13][14]
Awards and Recognition
Fares participated in the Youth Equestrian Games 2022 held in Aachen, Germany, and competing among 30 athletes from across the world. He won 4th place in the team competition with team Asia.[15] In the same year, Fares won first place in the UAE Junior Championship and started competing at a Grand Prix Level in senior classes. He was placed in ranking classes in CIS2* and CIS4*.[16] while awhile securing podium finishes in a number of other national and regional competitions.[17]
Since 2022, Fares has competed extensively across Europe, achieving strong results at a number of international events. At the Longines Future Global Champions in Valkenswaard in August 2024, he won first place in the Young Riders class and finished seventh in the 1.50m Young Riders Grand Prix.[18]
More recently, Fares returned to Aachen to compete internationally for the second time, where he achieved first place in the team competition and eighth place individually, competing in a field of approximately 40 international riders in the CSIY-A competition.[19][20]
Personal life
Fares has lived in both Canada and the UAE and is currently based in the Netherlands, where he is completing his studies at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
He grew up in a family with a strong interest in sports and horses, although no other members of his family compete in equestrian sport. Both of his parents are lawyers and have supported his equestrian career from an early age.
Outside show jumping, Fares enjoys karting, golf and football, as well as spending time with his friends and family.[21]
References
- ↑ "S Main Events - Youth Equestrian Games 2022". FEI. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ↑ "Fares Azouni (10205226)". FEI.org. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ↑ "Fares Azouni | Knight Show Jumper I فارس عزوني". Knight Show Jumper. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ↑ "FEI Results". FEI. Retrieved 17 September 2026.
- ↑ "Fares Azouni Profile". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2026-09-17.
- ↑ "International Encounters and Exceptional Youth Sport". Aachen 2026. Retrieved 17 September 2026.
- ↑ "Results - Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club / Abu Dhabi (202100081)". worldchallenges.fei.org. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ↑ "FEI Person Performance". FEI. Retrieved 17 September 2026.
- ↑ "30 nations confirmed for the FEI Youth Equestrian Games 2022". FEI. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ↑ "ei-youth-equestrian-games-2022-ultimate-guide". www.fei.org. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ↑ Horse Sport staff (12 August 2024). "Cassidy Rein Wins Young Rider Grand Prix". Horse Sport. Retrieved 17 September 2026.
- ↑ "Fares Azouni Athlete Profile". FEI.org. Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI). Retrieved 2026-09-17.
- ↑ "fei-youth-equestrian-games-2022/results". www.fei.org. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ↑ "🇨🇦 Canadian Young Rider (U21) Fares Azouni competed I'm Special for Ahmad Azouni and Maisa Al Saidi in the Stawag Prize 1.40m class Friday afternoon. They finished in 8th place". Instagram. Retrieved 17 September 2026.
- ↑ "fei-youth-equestrian-games-2022/results". www.fei.org. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ↑ "FEI Results". FEI. Retrieved 17 September 2026.
- ↑ "FEI Person Performance". FEI. Retrieved 17 September 2026.
- ↑ Horse Sport staff (12 August 2024). "Cassidy Rein Wins Young Rider Grand Prix". Horse Sport. Retrieved 17 September 2026.
- ↑ "International Encounters and Exceptional Youth Sport". Aachen 2026. Retrieved 17 September 2026.
- ↑ "🇨🇦 Canadian Young Rider (U21) Fares Azouni competed I'm Special for Ahmad Azouni and Maisa Al Saidi in the Stawag Prize 1.40m class Friday afternoon. They finished in 8th place". Instagram. Retrieved 17 September 2026.
- ↑ "Team ASIA Riders Profile – YEG 2022" (PDF). Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). Retrieved 18 September 2026.
