If you are wondering how to listen to the Olympics, iHeartRadio has you covered. iHeartRadio is the exclusive audio home of NBC's coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics, so it is the only place to listen to the Olympics stream. The free iHeart app is where to go to listen to exclusive play-by-play action of Team USA. To celebrate, we are spotlighting some of the country's athletes that are vying for gold.
Laura Kraut, a seasoned international competitor and Olympic champion, has had an illustrious career in show jumping. Born into a family passionate about horse riding, Kraut received her first riding lesson at the tender age of three. Encouraged by their mother, Carol, Kraut and her sister Mary Elizabeth took riding lessons together throughout their childhood and continue to work together today.
Kraut's first significant break came in 1992 when she was named an alternate to the U.S. team for the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games. She made her Olympic debut eight years later in Sydney, Australia, riding Liberty. In 2008, she was part of the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the Beijing Olympics, riding Cedric. In 2021, Kraut was a part of the silver medal-winning U.S. team at the Tokyo Olympics with her mount, Baloutinue.
According to the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), Kraut has represented the U.S. at the FEI World Equestrian Games multiple times, winning team silver in 2006 and team gold in 2018. She has also been part of the U.S. team at five FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Finals, including a bronze-winning effort in 2016 and a silver medal-winning team in 2017.
In 2023, Kraut helped the U.S. Jumping Team secure their qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. She rode Dorado 212 to help the team secure gold and placed fourth individually. In 2024, Laura rode to another strong season with Baloutinue, jumping a double clear for the team at the Longines League of Nations CSIO5* in Ocala, Fla., where they finished with just a single time-fault in the Grand Prix. The duo produced excellent rounds in Rotterdam CSIO5*, earning fourth overall in the Grand Prix. The duo secured their second consecutive selection to represent the U.S. Jumping Team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Paris 2024 will be Kraut's fifth Olympic Games and her second with Baloutinue.
Based in both Florida and Great Britain, Kraut and her longtime partner, legendary British show jumper Nick Skelton, run a successful training business. Her successful international show jumping career gives her a wealth of knowledge and the ability to coach juniors and amateurs to the highest level of global competition.
From exclusive NBC play-by-play action of Team USA to live hourly updates from the Games to original Summer Games podcasts, you can listen to the Olympics stream only on iHeartRadio. Find out more about how to listen.