Det blev til en overraskende fransk sejr i holdfinalen ved OL i military. De tyske favoritter blev henvist til andenpladsen, mens Australien, der ellers førte hen over natten, vandt bronze. Den individuelle tyske storfavorit Michael Jung skuffede ikke, men sikrede sig sit andet OL-mesterskab i træk på den samme hest, Sam, som han også red på for fire år siden i London.
Hr. Jung startede med at ligge nummer fem efter dressuren, men et sensationelt ridt i terrænet bragte ham op på en andenplads inden springningen i går, hvor han brillerede først for sit hold og siden for sig selv om aftenen. Sølvet gik til franske Nicolas Astier med Piaf de B’Neville, mens amerikanske Philip Dutton og Mighty Nice avancerede fra en fjerdeplads til en bronzemedalje på finaledagen.
Record
Todd was tipped for the sixth Olympic medal of his career which would have been a New Zealand record. “That will be one of the biggest lows in my career. The whole week was a roller coaster ride. After yesterday’s cross country we were still in with a chance and then – boom – you’re out. I was hoping to go out on a high. Leonidas is such a good jumper but he got wound up when going into the arena. I thought he would settle but he got more and more rattled,” said the shattered 60-year-old Kiwi legend.
The French however were on a high. This is the first gold and only the second medal of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games for the country that has only won two previous team titles in Eventing – a bronze in Rome in 1960 and gold at Athens in 2004.
“This is fantastic,” a clearly thrilled Astier Nicolas said afterwards. “There was a lot of pressure going into this, and really I just had to do what I could for the team. But even though there was a lot of pressure, I didn’t let it bother me. I really enjoyed my round and I am very happy. It’s just fantastic. It is an immense pleasure to be part of this team that has won gold for France. It is something we have waited for for a long time, and it’s amazing!.”
