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Olympic Update Dressage: Anky Van Grunsven and Salinero secure Individual Gold for the Netherlands

Media updates
24 August 2004 Author: webmaster
World No 1 Ulla Salzgeber has to settle for silver. Beatriz Ferrer Salat earns first ever Individual Olympic Dressage medal for Spain 
 
With a combined score of 79.253 % the Dutch Freestyle Queen, who won six World Cup Finals, ended up with a deserved score of 85.825 % after a stylish Kür on "L'Esprit Chanson" including a number of French famous songs. "It is unbelievable" commented the Dutch heroine, "after the Grand Prix, I never thought I had any chance to win the gold. After my injury last year which left me out of competition for 5 months, it is just unbelievable"! Salinero is physically very different from Bonfire", she continued, "but they have a similar character. They are no hero outside of the arena, very sensible and hot, as I like. Salinero is still very impressed by the crowd, as you could see at the prize giving ceremony, but he really wants to do his best for me. Both horses have actually a lot in common."

World Number One and favourite Ulla Salzgeber (GER) and Rusty earned the silver, after a score of 83.450 in the Freestyle to Music. It was the last appearance of highly decorated 16 year-old Rusty, who will leave his competitive career after a majestic fight, dancing to the powerful classical tune of "Carmina Burana", and receiving a combined score of 78.833 %.

Spanish Beatriz Ferrer-Salat and Beauvalais earned the first ever Olympic Individual Dressage medal for Spain.

Debbie McDonald (USA) and Brentina finished in fourth place, missing their change to improve their score in the Freestyle to Music.

Complete results on www.athens2004.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

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