Olympic update: family stories

Thierry TOUZAINT is the trainer of the French national Eventing team. He is the uncle of French team trailblazer Nicolas, who today followed up his stunning dressage display with a fault free cross-country round. Retaining the lead on Galan de Sauvagere, 24-year-old Nicolas goes into tomorrow's show jumping with high hopes of leading the French to their first equestrian team gold medal, and adding the individual honours.

Eventer Ingrid KLIMKE (Germany) is the daughter of the late Reiner Klimke who won team and individual Olympic gold medals in the dressage event at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Ingrid is currently lying sixth individually before the show jumping phases, and in silver position with her German team mates.

Sara and Linda ALGOTSSON, both members of the Swedish eventing team, are sisters. Linda (32), a mathematics and science teacher, is the eldest by two years and was the role model for Sara to take up the sport. Sara jumped clear incurring 11.2 time penalties on the cross country course with her horse Robin des Bois, but Linda and Stand By Me incurred 20 penalties for one refusal, and 18.20 time penalties. The Swedish team lies in ninth place.

Bettina HOY, who is lying in second place is married to Australian team rider Andrew HOY. At the Sydney Olympics it was Bettina who, as reserve rider, watched and supported while Andrew collected his third team gold medal in a row. Here in Athens so far the situation looks likely to reverse as the German team is also second place while the Australians are fifth. It is support rather than rivalry all the way for the British based couple. Bettina explained: "We compete against the course rather than each other. In Sydney I basked in Andrew's glory and he does the same to me. It is the way a good relationship should be!"
Andrew was the original rider of Ringwood Cockatoo. Doesn't Andrew regret giving the ride to his wife? "Not at all, they really didn't like each other"!