French show jumper Nina Mallevaey discovered she had entered the Longines World Rankings top 10 while landing in Miami in January 2026. The 26-year-old was en route to the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, when the news broke. She has since held the number 8 position for two months.
Nina Mallevaey, a 26-year-old French show jumper, experienced a memorable moment in January 2026 upon learning of her rise into the elite ranks of the sport. While flying to Wellington, Florida, for the Winter Equestrian Festival, Mallevaey was unaware that the latest Longines World Rankings had placed her in the top 10. Due to lack of service on the plane, she only discovered the update after touching down in Miami.
'I was in the plane when it happened, when the result came out, so I had no service,' Mallevaey shared. 'When I landed in Miami, I opened my phone and I had like 50 messages and I was like, wow! It was definitely the best arrival for me. Yeah, I didn’t expect landing in Miami to be breaking the top 10 and receiving so many messages from so many people. It was just so nice.'
Overwhelmed by the influx of congratulations, she remained seated in the aircraft for about 20 minutes, absorbing the messages before disembarking. This achievement marks a significant milestone in her career, with Mallevaey now occupying the number 8 spot for two consecutive months.
Reflecting on the honor, she said, 'It feels amazing. I think I don’t really realize that much [what it means yet]. But I think it’s a great way also for me to say thank you to everyone who supports me and everyone who works so hard to create results like that. So yeah, I enjoy it so much.'
Mallevaey's ascent highlights her rapid progress in international show jumping, building on years of dedication and strong performances.
