ACOG - Equestrian - IBM

Who to Watch in Equestrian-Dressage

Individual

A new face in dressage has been causing a stir on the European circuit of late. L. Michelle GIBSON of the United States on Peron laid claim to three Grand Prix victories in two months in Germany. This put her ahead of dressage darlings Isabelle WERTH (GER) and Anky VAN GRUNSVEN (NED). Barcelona team gold and individual silver medalist WERTH clearly topped the field at the European Championships in Luxembourg with 236.29 after she and Nobilis Gigolo placed first in the Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Freestyle. VAN GRUNSVEN (1992 team silver and freestyle champion) was right behind her all the way, taking second. Nevertheless, VAN GRUNSVEN will be tough to beat in Atlanta. She and Cameleon Bonfire finished ahead of the pack at the Volvo World Cup Final in Los Angeles, California. The competition showcased the Europeans. In addition to VAN GRUNSVEN, Monica THEODORESCU of Germany had a good show with Ganimedes TecRent, and VAN GRUNSVEN’s teammate, Sven ROTHENBERGER on Olympic Bo came in third. THEODORESCU (1992 team gold medalist) won the Grand Prix at the Olympic qualifier held in her home country. Not to be forgotten is German Nicole UPHOFF-BECKER. She started riding at the age of 3, and was the youngest-ever dressage winner in the 1988 Olympic Games. All these riders have held their own at the top events throughout the world, such as Aachen, Stuttgart, Aarhus, Mondorf and ‘s-Hertogenbosch. The 1996 panoply of female medal contenders is fairly new to the sport, which once required a military, hence male, background. Liselott LINSENHOFF was the first female individual gold medalist in 1972, in which 21 of the 33 riders were women. And it wasn’t until the Seoul Games in 1998 that all three individual dressage medals were won by women.

Team

Certainly, Germany monopolizes the top individuals: WERTH, UPHOFF-BECKER, Martin SCHAUDT, Klaus BALKENHOL, THEODORESCU, Martina HANNOVER and Karin REHBEIN, giving the country a definite edge in the team competition. The team is the reining European Champion, and has to its credit one of the most renowned dressage riders of all time, Dr. Reiner KLIMKE. He has taken first place at the Olympic Games, World and European Championships, both individually and with the German team. While some may speculate that he has passed his prime, there is no substitute for experience, and many eyes will be on this rider and his mount in both the individual and team competition. However, the Netherlands, second at the World Championships in Luxembourg, is not far behind rival Germany, boasting the talent of VAN GRUNSVEN on Cameleon Bonfire, ROTHENBERGER on Olympic Bo, Ellen BONTJE on Silvano and Tineke BARTELS on Olympic Barbria. Rounding out the top five are France, with its third-place finish at worlds, Sweden, Great Britain and the United States.

Competing Countries

AUTAustria
BELBelgium
CANCanada
DENDenmark
FINFinland
FRAFrance
GERGermany
GBRGreat Britain
HUNHungary
IRLIreland
ITAItaly
MEXMexico
NEDNetherlands
ESPSpain
SWESweden
SUISwitzerland
USAUnited States

This is an official publication of The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Jennifer Knight. Special thanks to Anne Gribbons.


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).