Olympic update Dressage: Anky van Grunsven

Anky Van Grunsven (NED) defending gold medallist in Individual Dressage will compete in her fifth Olympic Games in Athens.

Her legendary horse Bonfire who was retired after having won the gold medal in Sydney, is replaced by the expressive 10 year old dark bay Hanoverian gelding by Salieri and St. Pr. Luna, with which she earned her sixth World Cup title last April.

The Dutch star says that she is back on form, after her win on World No 1 Ulla Salzgeber in Aachen last July, after a dreadful 2003 which saw her breaking her leg and Salinero injured.

The Dressage competition, which starts this Friday, is expected to be very close, with Salzgeber and the American Debbie McDonald breathing on her shoulder.