The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic GamesAugust 8-24 2008
(HONG KONG, August 18) -- The Individual medals for Dressage hang in the balance and everything depends on the results of the Freestyle at the HK Equestrian Venue (Shatin) on Tuesday. Germany's Isabell Werth is only 0.24 percentage points ahead but could stop the Netherlands's Anky van Grunsven from winning her third consecutive gold.
Gold favorites:
Werth could not protect a strong lead in the Special after her horse Satchmo spooked badly and it has to be seen whether the horse has settled again.
Grunsven had similar problems with Salinero showing two mistakes. They are the current World Cup winners and Grunsven holds a record of eight World Cup wins.
Bronze favorites:
Heike Kemmer from Germany aboard Bonaparte is in third position on 72.250 percent after a faultless test in the Grand Prix Special. A member of two gold medal-winning teams, she has yet to win an Individual Olympic Games medal.
Steffen Peters from the United States and Ravel are ranked fourth on 71.800. Ravel, a Dutch stallion, can be expected to deliver a fascinating Freestyle.
An outside chance for a bronze medal is Russian Alexandra Korelova, riding ex-police horse Balagur. The grey stallion is known for exceptional piaffes and passages. Both movements count for much in the Freestyle.
Half of the Freestyle marks are based on artistic presentation. This includes rhythm, harmony between horse and rider, choreography and use of the arena, degree of difficulty, music and interpretation of the music. The Freestyle counts for half of the medal score.
Fifteen riders qualified for the final. The riders with the top five scores will ride last, after a draw for their starting order within their group. Grunsven has the advantage of riding last.
The first rider out in the arena will be Danish Team bronze medalist Nathalie Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein with Digby.
