Team, Open

The Netherlands, silver medallists at London 2012, were the reigning European and World Champions on the approach to the Rio Games with Germany, France and the USA also appearing as strong contenders. By contrast Great Britain, the reigning Olympic champions, had suffered from a lack of world class equine talent and a surfeit of injuries and were eliminated in the qualifying phase.

The qualification was indeed brutal and anything over eight penalties was enough to deny a team a place in the final. The low scoring continued in the final and a single mistake by the USA’s Lucy Davis meant that France would walk away with the Olympic title. The final French score of 3 penalty points consisted entirely of time faults. Germany and Canada were forced into a jump-off for bronze after ending the finals in a tie on eight penalties. The Germans then produced a perfect three rounds to clinch the final place on the podium. The French gold medal victory was only their second in the history of the event and their first since 1976.