German Equestrian Dominance Continues
August 14, 2008
Germany claimed a third equestrian gold of the Olympic Games by beating the Netherlands to the team dressage title to continue the nation's domination at the event.
The German team of Heike Kemmer, Nadine Capellmann and Isabell Werth posted an average score of 72.916 percent to defeat the Netherlands (71.750) and Denmark (68.875) on Thursday, Aug. 14.
It was the eighth German Olympic victory in the event since 1976 with only the boycotted Moscow Games of 1980 breaking the series.
Werth on Satchmo anchored the Germans to win her fifth Olympic gold to become the country's fourth most successful Olympic competitor.
If she wins an individual gold on Tuesday she will go second in the all-time list behind canoeist Birgit Fischer.
"A fifth Olympic gold is something special," 39-year-old Werth said.
"This horse makes you look good," she said of Satchmo.
"We are really happy to have achieved this because a lot of people didn't believe in the German team."
Werth's score of 76.417 per cent put her at the top of the individual grand prix, followed by Anky van Grunsven of the Netherlands (74.750). Kemmer of Germany lies third with 72.250.
On Tuesday, German riders won the team eventing and the individual jumping gold.
Also on Thursday, Germany's Mirko Englich won silver in Greco-Roman wrestling in the 96-kilogram category. Fellow German Christine Brinker claimed bronze in women's skeet shooting.