Wellington, United States – January 08, 2026 – It has been a big week for French national champion Nina Mallevaey (FRA). In the first release of the FEI rider rankings for 2026, she made her debut in the world’s top 10 at no. 8 before winning the $32,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 1 CSI 3* at Wellington International on Thursday.
Sat atop Destine To Be, owned by the Rein Family, the 26-year-old rider punched her ticket for Saturday night’s $140,000 Palm Beach Country Sports Commission CSI3* Grand Prix to kick off the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) season at Wellington International. Hosting 12 weeks of international competition, WEF runs through March 29 in Wellington, FL.
Of her new position within the top 10 show jumping riders in the world, Mallevaey said, “It’s an amazing achievement and I didn’t expect it. My team, my horses—I have a lot of people around me who helped me achieve this and I can’t thank The Rein Family enough. They have supported me for almost five years. There’s no better way for me to thank them than results like this.
“This now pushes me to try to stay in [the top 10], while also listening to my horses and what they need,” she continued. “The ranking is nice, but my horses are more important than the points.”
The two-round WEF Challenge cup track was set by course designer Nick Granat (USA), with 12 returning for the tie-breaking second phase. Mallevaey piloted her 10-year-old Anglo European Sport Horse gelding by Diamant de Semilly x Grandilot to a winning time of 33.10 seconds.
U.S. under-25 rider Olivia Sweetnam (USA) took second riding Epic for owner Sweet Oak Farm in 34.58 seconds.
Rounding out the all-American podium, U.S. Olympic team gold medalist Laura Kraut (USA) —currently ranked just ahead of Mallevaey at no. 7 in the world—was third riding Dorado 212, owned by St. Bride’s Farm, in 36.33 seconds.
“I wanted to go fast enough but not crazy because he’s going to jump the grand prix [on Saturday],” said Mallevaey, whose international victory tally with Destine To Be is now up to seven. “He’s fast naturally, and that helped me. He’s also quick across the ground, so I was able to turn tight at the end. It was his win and a nice way to start the year.”
Final Results – $32,000 Adequan WEF Challenge Cup Round I CSI 3*
1) Nina Mallevaey (FRA) & Destine to Be – 0 / 0 – 33.10
2) Olivia Sweetnam (USA) & Epic – 0 / 0 – 34.58
3) Laura Kraut (USA) & Dorado 212 – 0 / 0 – 36.33
Source: Press Release from Wellington International
Photos: © Wellington International / Sportfot / Cassidy Klein
