ACOG - News - IBM

(3 August 1996; Day 15)

Long Week Ends With Individual Dressage Silver for VAN GRUNSVEN

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

Individual dressage silver medalist Anky VAN GRUNSVEN was probably starting to wonder if this week would ever end.

Following the bombing of the Centennial Olympic Park in the early hours of 27 July, VAN GRUNSVEN's hotel was evacuated in the middle of the following night because of a bomb threat. Just in time to keep her up for most of the night before she and Bonfire rode in the team dressage competition. VAN GRUNSVEN recovered to pilot Bonfire to a Grand Prix score that put them in second place individually in the dressage competition and solidified a team silver medal for the Netherlands.

After the Grand Prix Special on 31 July, VAN GRUNSVEN and Bonfire moved to the top of the individual standings with the top score of the day, a 77.72. But before the pair could move on to their specialty, the musical Kur or freestyle, VAN GRUNSVEN learned of her grandmother's death on 1 August.

The following day, Bonfire was held back after the final veterinary inspection, and had to be re-inspected later that afternoon. "The second vet check took half of my day yesterday," said VAN GRUNSVEN. Bonfire was cleared for Saturday's competition following the second vet check, but not before VAN GRUNSVEN's carefully planned schedule had been interrupted.

"It's been a real tough week," said VAN GRUNSVEN. "First, the bomb threat, then after the Special, I found out that my grandmother had died. It was difficult to properly train for the Kur after the vet inspection."

Despite all of that, VAN GRUNSVEN didn't take the easy way out to explain why she and Bonfire, the 1995 World Champions in the Kur, posted a score of 79.58. The score was 3.42 points lower than that of gold medalists Isabell WERTH and Gigolo, and gave WERTH the gold by a margin of 2.07 points.

"Bonfire is completely sound. I just made mistakes today, and mistakes are not allowed. I'm really happy with my silver medal, and very happy that Bonfire is sound."

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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Olympic Factoid
The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July).