The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic GamesAugust 8-24 2008
(HONG KONG, August 21) -- Eric Lamaze of Canada beat Rolf-Goran Bengtsson of Sweden in a jump-off to win gold in Equestrian Jumping on Thursday, August 21, the final day of the Olympic Equestrian competition. Beezie Madden of the United States also needed a jump-off to reach the podium -- she won bronze over six competitors by finishing in the fastest time and incurring no penalty points.
Bengtsson and Ninja, the first rider out in the gold medal jump-off, had the last fence down and Lamaze was able to play safe, finishing on the same time of 38.39 seconds.
Madden and Authentic were the fastest of three clear rounds in the bronze medal jump-off, after a daring short cut through the decorative shrubbery, finishing on 35.25. The shortcut counted for an advantage of 0.12 over Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum of Germany and Shutterfly, who found their usual form too late.
This is the first time the medals have been decided within that many jump-off rounds.
Lamaze, 40, won the first Individual Jumping gold medal for Canada and he had to endure his second jump-off during the 2008 Olympic Games. He stayed clear as well in Monday's Team jump-off. Hickstead had only one rail down in all seven rounds.
At his third Olympic Games, Bengtsson, 46, won his first Individual medal after being a member of the Swedish silver winning team at Athens 2004. It is the first Individual medal for Sweden since Clarence von Rosen won bronze at Los Angeles 1932.
Defending Individual gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa Brazil and Rufus turned in the third clear round in the jump-off but finished fifth on 37.04.
Mclain Ward of the United States finished sixth and Ludger Beerbaum of Germany seventh, both finished on four faults. Netherland riders Marc Houtzager who stood at eighth and Angelique Hoorn who stood at ninth had two rails down.
Twenty-two riders had reached Round B for the finals. Nine had stayed clear to reach the jump-off.
