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2008 Olympics: Hindle makes Britain proud with seventh place
last updated on August 20, 2008 09:19
Emma Hindle and Lancet gave it their all. They performed a freestyle test to be proud of for 74.25% and sixth place. Combining this with their grand prix special score - ninth on 70.44% - put them seventh overall in the individual competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
This is only one place lower than Britain’s highest-ever placing at an Olympics. Christopher Bartle and Wily Trout were equal sixth at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, although it is only fair to point out that the competition had a different format then.
British Dressage Chairman Jennie Loriston-Clarke, who was commentating live for the BBC, said: “She really went for it in the freestyle. She has produced three superb tests during these Games and Britain should be proud of her.”
Team captain Richard Davison said: “Emma could not have ridden any better.”
After the competition had finished, Hindle revealed she has not had the best of preparations for the Games: “Six weeks ago I had a major operation [for ovarian cancer], so to finish so high in the placings is extra special.”
Hindle paid tribute to all the support staff who aided her rapid recovery from having a tumour removed and mentioned the great morale in the British equestrian camp: “I can’t believe how many people believed in me. I’m used to being involved in rivalry, but now I’m proud to be part of such a great team.”
The ongoing “battle of the giants” between Germany’s Isabell Werth and Holland’s Anky van Grunsven was as close as ever with Werth heading the grand prix special, but van Grunsven, dubbed the “queen of the kur”, winning her third consecutive individual gold, her second with Salinero, after a simply magical freestyle performance, which earned a 10 for transitions.
For the full results, click here.
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| Anky van Grunsven with her third individual gold medal. |
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