German riders hung on to the slender lead they took into the final day of equestrian team eventing yesterday to win gold ahead of Australia and Great Britain — and sweet revenge for what they see as the tragedy of Athens four years ago.
Hinrich Romeike on Marius, Ingrid Klimke on Abraxxas, Peter Thomsen on The Ghost of Hamish, Andreas Dibowski on Butts Leon and Frank Ostholt on Mr Medicott won their country’s third gold of the Beijing Olympics.
The win — their country’s third team eventing gold after 1936 and 1988 — was seen as just deserts after the Germans had to forfeit their gold medal at the last Olympics because of a technicality.
PHOTO: EPA
Then, rider Bettina Hoy — unable to take part this time around because of an injury to her horse — had unwittingly twice gone over the starting line.
The Germans’ appeal against disqualification and having the medal taken away was turned down by the Court of Arbitration in Sport.
“It’s most satisfying to get back what they took from us,” national team coach Hans Melzer said. “What happened in Athens gave us wings for this achievement.”
Yesterday’s victory in Hong Kong left the Germans well placed for a further gold in the ensuing individual eventing jump-off, for which two of their riders, Romeike ud Klimke, were starting in first and second places on the basis of the earlier jumping.
All five riders in the Australian team, who finished the three-day event with 171.20 faults, were first-time Olympians.
Megan Jones, who once worked as a groom, said: “It’s always amazing to come home from your first Games with some kind of bling, so any color will do.”
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