Germany takes Olympic Dressage Team gold for 15th time in super-tight contest
For the 15th time in the history of the Olympic Games, the defending champions from Germany claimed gold in Team Dressage at the Paris 2024 Equestrian venue in Versailles (FRA) today when Isabell Werth (Wendy), Frederic Wandres (Bluetooth OLD) and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (TSF Dalera BB) posted the winning score of 235.790.
But their victory was by the narrowest of margins when, in a super-tight contest, only 0.12 points separated them from Denmark’s Daniel Bachmann Andersen (Vayron), Nanna Skodborg Merrald (Zepter) and Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (Freestyle) who finished on a tally of 235.669 for the silver medal spot.
Great Britain’s Becky Moody (Jagerbomb), Carl Hester (Fame) and Charlotte Fry (Glamourdale) took bronze when just over two points further behind on 232.492 in a thrilling competition decided by the last three riders into the arena.
Second-last to go, Denmark’s Laudrup-Dufour produced the biggest score of the competition when putting 81.216 on the board to really pile the pressure on defending double-Olympic champion von Bredow-Werndl who was last to go.
But her score of 79.954 was enough to give Germany that tiny edge and golden glory once again.