Extra-ordinariness
Class, talent, finesse, technical skills, competitive abilities, professionalism, and exceptional sensitivity, combined with great simplicity and absolute modesty, are the qualities that make Alberto Zorzi one of the most appreciated show jumping riders in the international scene. Alberto is the only rider in the world, alongside British Olympians Nick Skelton and Ben Maher, to have won the London World Cup Grand Prix twice in a row.
2023: European Championships Milan San Siro
From August 30th to September 3rd, Alberto was once again called to represent our nation in a European Championship: under his saddle a new horse, Highlight W. (in the photo above and at the beginning)
A story of sporting passion
A rider of the Italian Army, at the end of March 2018, Alberto Zorzi entered the Top Ten of the global show jumping rankings, establishing together with Lorenzo de Luca an historic record, as that year, for the first time, Italy boasted two riders simultaneously at the top of the sport. Alberto has never stopped fighting to reach the top, and he has done so purely by talent: guided by his brother Giampietro, he began to have many and constant satisfactions thanks to almost total dedication, lived with seriousness and modesty and to a series of people who over the years have believed in him, including Jan Tops (former Olympian rider, owner of one of the most important sport stables in the world, founder of the Global Champions Tour – a series of competitions among the most prestigious internationally), who offered him the most important and formative opportunity, calling him to work for him in the Netherlands. From that moment Zorzi literally took off, especially for the quality of the horses that were made available to him. Consider that, from 2010 to date, he has participated in 3341 international competitions (131 horses under his saddle), from which he has drawn an impressive number of placements and victories.
After 7 years spent at Stal Tops, Alberto returned to Italy in 2022: today he is driven by the need to pursue an independent professional path, relying on the great experience gained abroad. By his side today is Francesca Castellani, who as the main sponsor is solidly believing in this talented Italian athlete, because of his undeniable and unique abilities.
A constant crescendo
From his first time on a team for a Nations Cup (Athens 2011) Italy wins, just like at his first World Cup Grand Prix (Oslo 2016) – in which he was the first to go and the first to face the decisive jump-off – Alberto triumphs!
In 2007 he participated with the mare Maja at the Junior European Championships in Antwerp in both the individual competition and the Nations Cup, representing Italy. In 2010, riding Carlotta, he represented the national Young Riders team at the European Championships in France. The following year, his first year as a Senior, he participated in a Nations Cup in Athens, where the Italian team triumphed. In 2017, together with the Italian team, he won the Nations Cup of Rome/Piazza di Siena and finished second in the Rome Grand Prix. In the same year, he also won his first Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix during the Monte Carlo leg. Also in 2017, riding Cornetto K, he placed 4th at the European Championships in Gothenburg; he deserved 2nd place at the Longines FEI World Cup™️ Jumping Verona Grand Prix with Fair Light Van t Heike and won the London Grand Prix, another FEI World Cup leg, with Contanga 3. Alberto also won the London Grand Prix the following year, repeating the double victory achieved for two consecutive years in the Grand Prix – FEI World Cup™️ – in Oslo (2016-2017). In 2018, he also won the LGCT Berlin Grand Prix with Fair Light van T Heike, finished 2nd in the LGCT Monaco Grand Prix, and 3rd in the LGCT Chantilly Grand Prix riding Contaga 3. He finished the 2018 LGCT season in fourth place. He placed 2nd in the Longines Master Paris Grand Prix. Among the most recent results (2023), he finished 3rd riding Floyd in the 145 at the CSI4* Valkenswaard, 2nd with Stakalite in the 145 at the CSI4* Geesteren, won the CSI2* Gorla Minore Grand Prix with Bacardi Les Hauts, and the CSI3* Silver Tour Arezzo Grand Prix with Stakalite.
