ACOG - News - IBM

(3 August 1996; Day 15)

Musical Kur an Equestrian Dressage Success

Germany's Isabell Werth waves to the crowd after winning the gold in the Olympic individual freestyle dressage event on "Gigolo" at the Georgia International Horse Park in Atlanta 03 August. (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) AFP/IOPP/Michael JUNG

Silver medalist Anky Van Grunsven of the Netherlands (L) kisses German gold medalist Isabell Werth on the podium following the Olympic individual dressage event 03 August in Atlanta. (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) AFP PHOTO/IOPP/Michael JUNG

There were several firsts on Saturday at the Georgia International Horse Park.

A capacity crowd of 31,000 spectators set a new standard for attendance at any world dressage championship, and a musical freestyle was performed at an Olympic competition for the first time in history.

Music selected by the riders for their Kur performances covered a vast range of music. Louise NATHHORST and Walk on Top of Sweden started the day with music that included "Dancing Queen" by ABBA, while later rides featured selections from the musical "Les Miserables," pop music such as "Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen and several Simon & Garfunkel selections, and original compositions were featured by several riders, including gold and silver medalists Isabell WERTH and Gigolo of Germany and Anky VAN GRUNSVEN and Bonfire of the Netherlands.

The three-phase, week-long competition included a Grand Prix test ridden in the team competition on either 27 or 28 July, a Grand Prix Special test on 31 July and today's freestyle. "I think it's a very fair system," said WERTH. "It combines three different tests, and I think that this is the best solution we could have."

Bronze medalist Sven ROTHENBERGER of the Netherlands is also a supporter of this system. "Olympic champions must now prove that they are the best three times. An Olympic medal can't be won by a person that has just one good day. Instead, they must be good on three days. I think that this competition proved without doubt that Isabell is the best, Anky is second and I am third."

VAN GRUNSVEN stood in second place individually and took the lead following the Grand Prix Special. The 1995 World Freestyle Champion commented, "Normally, the Kur is my favorite part of the competition, but of course on Wednesday, I wished that it was over after the first two tests. I do enjoy the Kur, though, and I think that today's crowd has proved that it is good for the sport as well."

This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Amy H. Symons.


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