Michael Jung makes history with back-to-back Eventing gold
Germany’s Michael Jung and his horse Sam earn their second consecutive Olympic gold in individual Eventing, making Jung the third rider in the history of the sport to do so in just his second appearance.
Ironically, Sam was not Jung’s first choice for the Rio Games. His intended horse picked up and infection a week before animals were due in Rio, but Sam proves to be Olympic worthy with another gold performance and a comeback from the No. 5 spot to make Olympic history.
USA’s oldest competing Olympian Phillip Dutton earns his first individual Eventing title
Phillip Dutton, 52-years-old gave himself an early birthday present after making an incredible comeback from the No.15 spot on day to Eventing to the No. 3 spot in the finals to claim bronze. Dutton’s crucial near perfect cross-country performance advanced him to a top five spot entering Tuesday’s jumping finals. Dutton and Mighty Nice finish both jumping rounds with minimal time penalties to become the first American duo to earn an individual Eventing title since Beijing.
Laura Graves and Diddy perform the ride of their lives earning the U.S. dressage team a spot on the podium for the first time since 2004
The fate on the U.S. dressage team fell into the hands of Laura Graves and Diddy in the Grand Prix special as she became the team’s last chance at trumping the Dutch in a nail-biting battle for the bronze title. The U.S. fell short to the Dutch’s 74.991average after performances from Allison Brock, Steffen Peters, and Kasey Perry-Glass averaged out to be 73.984. The former hairstylist answers the team’s prayers by delivering the ride of her life. The duo’s 80.644 score on their performance secured the U.S. dressage team a spot on the podium for the first time since 2004.
Spanish dressage rider Severo Jurado Lopez and horse Lorenzo perform to “Smooth” by Santana and Rob Thomas
Severo Jesus Juardo Lopez and horse Lorenzo stole everyone’s hearts with a dressage performance to “Smooth” by Santana featuring Rob Thomas in the Individual Freestyle, but unfortunately were not able to bring home gold.
Charlotte Dujardin seals the deal on gold and fiancé
Charlotte Dujardin and Velegro seal the deal on their second consecutive dressagean gold tying British Cyclist Laura Troff as the most decorated British female in Olympic history. The duo also surpasses the record breaking score they set in the London Games.
The gold wasn’t the only deal Dujardin sealed in the Olympic Equestrian Centre. The 31-year-old agreed to head to the alter with fiancé Dean Wyatt Goulding after he sported an impatient message on his shirt from the crowd reading “Can we get married now?” Dujardin admits that Goulding had previously proposed to the British icon, but wanted her to say “yes more” and move along the process.
Isabell Werth earns 10th Olympic medal to become the most decorated equestrian athlete in Olympic history
Germany’s Isabell Werth became the most successful rider at the Olympics as she helped lead the German dressage team back to the top with a gold title in the Grand Prix Special. Her success wouldn’t stop at the Grand Prix gold. The “Dressage Queen” delivers an extraordinary performance in the Grand Prix Individual Freestyle claiming silver and surpassing Andy van Grunsven of the Netherlands as the most decorated equestrian athlete in Olympic history with a total of 10 Olympic medals.
France Clinches jumping gold after just three riders
France comes out fighting in the Team Jumping finals from fifth place position to take home a second equestrian team gold in Rio.
France entered the finals trailing Brazil, Germany, Neatherlands, and Team USA who remained in a four-way tie for first place with clear scores. The French compensate for Tuesday’s Round One performance with three back-to-back clear rounds to seal the deal on gold after just three competitors. France secures gold with a team total of 1 penalty point.
Individual jumping finals end in six man jump-off
Six riders complete double clear rounds in the Show Jumping Finals to tie for first place. Kent Farrington (USA) , Nick Skelton (GBR) , defending champion Steve Guerdat (SUI), Sheikh Ali Al Thani (QAT), Peder Fredricson (SWE) and Eric Lamaze (CAN) compete in a Battle Royale of a jump-off to claim a spot on the podium for individual glory.
Nick Skelton wins individual jumping gold with replaced hip
Great Britain’s Nick Skelton and horse Big Star take home Great Britain’s first individual show jumping gold with a clear 42.82 second performance in the six man jump-off.
Skelton, the oldest competitor to make it to the jumping finals, set the bar high for his rivals with a quick and flawless performance in a nail-biting six man jump-off that nobody could contest to.
Six Olympic Games, two broken CI vertebrae, and a hip replacement later Skelton earns a fairytale ending to his equestrian career by adding an individual gold title to his London 2012 team title.
Silver jumping medalist Peder Fredricson dabs after claiming his individual title
Sweden’s Peder Fredricson, an eventer turned show jumper dabs in celebration of adding an individual silver medal to his 2004 team silver. Fredricson was the only rider besides Skelton to clear the jump-off course, but fell short with a time of 43.35.