Paris 2024 Olympics: Great Britain win equestrian team eventing for first gold of Games
Updated 29/07/2024 at 23:50 GMT+1
Britain has secured its first gold medal in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as Team GB secured first place in the team eventing category, defending their title from Tokyo 2020 and extending their lead on the final day of the three-day competition. Laura Collett secured the win in the final round of showjumping to leap ahead of France in the silver medal position. Collett also won individual bronze.
‘Paris Olympic champions’ – Team GB seal their first gold of 2024 Games with equestrian success
Video credit: TNT Sports
Team GB secured their first gold of the Paris Olympics with victory in the team eventing final, defending their Tokyo 2020 title despite pressure from host nation France.
The team of Tom McEwen on JL Dublin, Laura Collett on London 52 and Ros Canter on Lordships Graffalo led the standings in team eventing after the dressage and cross-country elements, but their lead had narrowed to just 4.7 penalty points over closest challengers France before the final day’s jumping events.
Ultimately, small errors from the French team gave GB some breathing room and excellent rides from the British squad handed them their nation's first gold of Paris 2024.
They secured the gold with a score of 91.30 penalty points, a comfortable 12.3 ahead of France on 103.60. Japan completed the podium with a score of 115.80.
It makes this Games the first time since 1972 that Britain have defended their Olympic eventing title.
Collett and McEwen were both members of the gold medal-winning squad in Tokyo, while Canter, now world No. 1, had been the first reserve.
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'On top of the world' - Team GB speak to Eurosport after defending Olympic eventing crown
Video credit: TNT Sports
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The team made history in 2020 by winning GB's first medal in the team event in 49 years and, back for the double, were a formidable prospect in Paris.
A record-breaking top score in the dressage on day one put them into the lead, with Collett's 17.5 penalties smashing the previous record of 19.3 set in 2000.
But a more error-strewn performance in Sunday’s cross-country, including 15 penalties incurred by Canter, narrowed their margin and put the pressure back on them in the final event of the three-day competition.
But McEwen appeared unbothered by the pressure and got the team off to a dream start with a clear round on JL Dublin, and as the French team incurred minor penalties in their rides, Collett had four fences in hand.
Barring complete disaster the gold medal was in the bag and she duly delivered, staying cool up until the final fence. She incurred a 4.80 penalty by knocking the final fence and incurring two minor time faults after a near-flawless ride, but it was still enough to secure the gold.
The home team appeared thrilled with silver, as did a jubilant French crowd enjoying the action amid the beautiful setting of the Palace of Versailles.
There was further success for GB in the individual eventing final as Collett won bronze.
Germany's Michael Jung took gold while Australia's Christopher Burton secured silver.
McEwen just missed out on a podium place as he came fourth.
The team gold medal brings an end to an anxious wait for Team GB, who had claimed silver and bronze medals on the first two days of the Games but no top spots on the podium.
It also provides a much-needed boost to the equestrian squad after the rancour and scandal surrounding prominent British rider Charlotte Dujardin, who pulled out from competing in Paris after video emerged of her whipping a horse.
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