Olympic individual medalists Charlotte Dujardin (gold), Isabell Werth (silver) and Kristina Bröring-Sprehe (bronze). Where is the medal for Valegro? © 2016 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 15, 2016–Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro won the Olympic individual gold medal setting a new Olympic record and scoring within 0.443 per cent of their world record. Isabell Werth on Weihegold OLD that she has been riding regularly for eight months took the silver that brought her Olympic medal tally to 10, more than any Olympic equestrian while German gold medal team mate Kristina Bröring-Sprehe on Desperados FRH claimed the bronze.
Laura Graves on Verdades of the United States bronze medal team received a personal best Freestyle score of 85.196 per cent for fourth, the same placing as Steffen Peters and Ravel in the musical ride at the Beijing Games in 2008. The score was the second personal best for Laura, of Geneva, Florida, at these Olympics, posting 80.644 per cent that was a personal best Grand Prix Special result.
The Grand Prix Freestyle victory on a score of 93.857 per cent–the world record held by the pair is 94.300 per cent–was described by Charlotte as “emotional” while Carl Hester, part-owner, trainer and team mate, confessed he shed tears for the first time. The two now face the possibility of retiring the 14-year-old gelding while he is on top of the sport. The duo hold world records for all three Grand Prix levels and are two-time Olympic individual gold medal winners as well as gold and silver in team competition, world and European champions and won the World Cup both times competing in final of the annual event.
Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro in the Grand Prix Freestyle to win Olympic individual gold. © 2016 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
The pair that were riding to music with a distinct Brazilian flavor and composed specially for these Games by Tom Hunt who created their British themed London Games freestyle received two scores of 99 per cent, one of 98 and four of 97 for artistic.
Charlotte and Carl said they will decide soon whether to retire Valegro from competition, possibly with a finale performance at the London Olympia World Cup event at Christmas that would be certain to draw a packed house at home.
Isabell admitted she was sad Valegro might retire because the British combination deserved to win and the sport needed top combinations to keep the level high and create spectator and media interest but she also admired leaving at the pinnacle.
Isabell Werth and Weihegold in the Olympic individual final. © 2016 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Isabell and Weihegold that scored 89.071 per cent for silver was initially ridden by her assistant Beatrice Buchwald but when both Don Johnson FRH and Bella Rose had not recovered from injuries in time for these Olympics she took over riding the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare.
Kristina and Desperados, 15-year-old Hanoverian stallion, won the bronze with an award of 87.142 per cent from the seven-member ground jury and now is facing questions about retirement of the horse that she won team silver at the London Olympics and team gold at these Games. That will be decided, she said, with German team coach Monica Theodorescu after the horse gets a good long rest and goes back to the breeding shed.
Kristina Bröring-Sprehe and Desperados FRH on their way to their first Olympic individual medal, bronze, after earning team silver in London in 2012 and team gold at Rio. © 2016 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Charlotte described the ride on Valegro as “really, really magical.”
In London, she said, there were no expectations and no pressure but “coming in here today I felt for the first time nervous, I felt the pressure and the expectations of trying to retain the gold.
“As soon as we got into arena and had the feeling of riding Valegro, I got a smile on my face, and it was OK.
“It was a magical ride, the connection, the bond with the horse. It felt so effortless and easy. He tried so hard. The final centerline was so emtoional for me. He couldn't have tried harder.”
Charlotte said that while the decision about Valegro's future competition is with Carl and the other owners, she does not expect to do another championship.
“He's been the horse of a lifetime,” she said.”What this horse has achieved you could have written it down and you would never believe it could happen.
“I owe it to him to finish at the top.”
Charlotte Dujardin on Valegro showing off their Olympic individual gold medal. © 2016 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
She also disclosed that she plans to marry her longtime boyfriend, Dean Wyatt Golding, next year.
Isabell, too, was asked whether she planned to retire now she is 47 years old but was adamant and the 10 medals she had won were more Olympic awards than any rider in any equestrian discipline, “I don't want to retire. For the next days and months and a few years I will compete. When I compete I want to be on the top level, otherwise I'll retire. Now, I have a great situation with several young and very talented horses.”
More to come
Results:
Equestrian – Dressage Individual Grand Prix Freestyle – Final Results
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