At 28, Belgian rider Gilles Thomas has shed the label of “promising young talent” through his competition results. He reached a career‑high world ranking of 4th and has long remained among the world’s top competitors. At the 2025 European Championships, he secured team gold and individual bronze, adding another major milestone to his resume. He rose to prominence in his junior years by claiming six European Championship titles. As a senior rider, he helped his team clinch victory at the Nations Cup Final and became the youngest‑ever overall champion in the history of the Longines Global Champions Tour. His consistent elite‑level performances have made him a key force in modern show‑jumping.

In autumn 2026, Gilles will return to the National Stadium (Bird's Nest) for the 13th Longines Beijing Masters. Back in 2023, he won the 145 cm Professional Rider Pairing Competition here. For Gilles, Beijing is much more than an ordinary stop on the international calendar — it is an arena for him to ride again and prove his prowess.

Gilles Thomas (Gilles Thomas) Profile Photo

Gilles Thomas | From an Equestrian Family to European Champion 

Born in 1998 into a Belgian equestrian family, Gilles’s uncle Marc van Dijck represented Belgium at the Nations Cup and also served as his coach. At the age of 13, Gilles competed for Belgium at the European Junior Championships. Between 2011 and 2019, he earned a total of six European Championship medals across the children’s, junior and young rider categories.

His upward momentum continued after moving up to the senior ranks. In 2022, he was part of the Belgian team that won the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, securing the team’s qualification for the Paris Olympic Games. He rose to greater public prominence in 2025 thanks to his stable season-long performances across different formats, supported by his string of top horses including Ermitage Kalone and Qalista DN.

Photo source: Longines Beijing International Equestrian Masters Official

2025 Season | European Championship Double Medals & Season Champion 

In July 2025, the FEI Show Jumping European Championships took place in La Coruña, Spain. Riding Ermitage Kalone, Gilles represented Team Belgium. In the team final, he delivered a crucial clear round, helping Belgium secure team gold with a score of 5.61 penalties. Two days later in the individual final, he claimed bronze alongside Ermitage Kalone with 1.37 penalties. Winning both team gold and individual bronze at a single major championship stands as his most outstanding achievement of the 2025 season.

Beyond the European Championships, Gilles put on an impressive display at the 2025 Longines Global Champions Tour. In June at the Paris leg, he rode Ermitage Kalone to victory in the jump-off with a time of 42.92 seconds. In September at the New York leg, he won the Grand Prix on Qalista DN in 31.03 seconds. He then sealed the overall season title two events early in Rome, becoming the youngest season champion in the tour’s history. At the end of the season, he won the 4-star Grand Prix in Maastricht and claimed victory at the 5-star Show Jumping World Cup leg in Mechelen, Belgium.

Photo source: Longines Beijing International Equestrian Masters Official 

2026 Season | Rotating Horses, Sustained Competitiveness 

In 2026, Gilles continues rotating between multiple horses. At the Longines Global Champions Tour Shanghai leg in May, riding Chuck Marienshof Z, he claimed victory in the 5-star 150cm jump-off. At the Lichtenvoorde leg in July, he finished sixth in the 5-star Grand Prix aboard Ermitage Kalone. Consistent scoring across different horses, height classes and arena conditions demonstrates that he has built a top-tier stable that does not rely on a single mount.

Photo source: Longines Beijing International Equestrian Masters Official 

Bird’s Nest Appointment | From Pairing‑Competition Champion to a New Journey 

Gilles’ bond with the Bird’s Nest began in 2023. That year, in his debut appearance at the Longines Beijing International Equestrian Masters, he won the 145 cm Professional Rider Pairing Competition. He has not missed the Bird’s Nest Masters ever since. For the 28‑year‑old rider, the consistency behind his achievements — from dual European Championship medals to the Longines Global Champions Tour overall title — matters more than any single victory.

From 15 to 18 October 2026, the 13th Longines Beijing International Equestrian Masters will take place at the National Stadium (Bird's Nest). Making his fourth trip to Beijing, Gilles will bring his credentials of European Championship dual medals and tour overall champion. On this familiar arena, against new rivals, the Belgian rider will once again demonstrate his rhythm, course‑reading and the seamless harmony between horse and rider.

The 13th Longines Beijing International Equestrian Masters

Dates: 15‑18 October 2026

Venue: National Stadium (Bird's Nest), Beijing

Meet the world’s top riders and join us for this equestrian gathering!