The Gold Rush
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Patience is a virtue
Singapore's Laurentia Tan achieves a historic bronze medal, providing Singapore and Asia with their first ever equestrian medal at the Paralympic Games
Sixteen years and four Paralympic editions later, Anne Dunham from Great Britain can finally claim the individual Olympic gold all to herself. Her spectacular performance this evening confirmed a great partnership with Teddy, a nine year old, crowd-loving chestnut gelding.
In true form and in a bold bid to also help secure the team gold for Great Britain, Athens bronze medallist Sophie Christiansen beat her own record by clenching silver in front of a packed arena this evening in Hong Kong with Lambrusco III.
For bronze, Singapore’s Laurentia Tan riding Nothing to Lose caused quite the sensation with a stunning performance, thus earning the first equestrian medal at the Paralympic Games not only for Singapore, but for the whole of Asia. Her outlook and words of encouragement to athletes prior to the Games provide a little insight into how one achieves the ultimate dream: “Reach for the stars and go for your dreams…! Show your talent, try and participate in as many events as possible, you never know.” This personal mantra has clearly served this determined rider well!
Cool Under Pressure
Brazil's Marcos Alves makes history with individual bronze, the first equestrian medal at Paralympics for South America
The pressure was on, he knew the expectations were high and… he delivered, oh so magnificently. Yes Lee Pearson, six time gold medallist at Paralympic Games, riding the young yet effervescent Gentlemen added not only a seventh, but also an eighth Paralympic gold medal to his name, as he not only won the Individual Championship for Grade Ib but was also part of the star studded cast which successfully maintained team gold on firm British soil…
In effect, for Lee Pearson that makes, three horses, three Paralympics Games and so far, nothing but gold… just the freestlye to go.
And on his life, future and 2012, Lee Pearson had this to say: “I hope this will change my life and show that I am not a ‘flash in the pan’. So bring on Paralympics 2012. I hope that my success wil inspire other people.”
Silver went to Norway’s Jens Dokkan riding Lacour and given his performance so far at these Games, and his clear determination, he could prove a fierce contender for the freestyle gold medal. Having already claimed silver at the FEI World Championships in Hartpury last year, and like any competitive sportsman, he will undoubtedly be looking to better that result.
Jens also added some valuable points to Norway’s total team score and thus was pivotal in helping Norway to the Team bronze medal.
Third place went to Brazilian rider Marcos Alves, a former professional Jumping rider who returned to equestrian sports following an accident in 1986. He expressed his gratitude to the Brazilian National Paralympic Committee and National Federation for providing the funding and the support which has been instrumental in sending the first ever Brazilian team to the equestrian events of the Paralympic Games. And it has clearly paid off, as this is the first medal for Brazil and South America at the equestrian events of the Paralympic Games.
About ‘flash in the pan’ – Lee Pearson’s most appropriate comment as he successfully earned gold this evening: There's reason to believe that this phrase derives from the Californian Gold Rush of the mid 19th century. Prospectors who panned for gold supposedly became excited when they saw something glint in the pan, only to have their hopes dashed when it proved not to be gold but a mere 'flash in the pan'. Conversely, 'it didn't pan out' refers to the opposite, thought there might be something, but it was just a glimmer of hope…
An all star female cast on the Grade III podium
Medals in the Grade III Individual Championship test were hotly disputed and it was Germany’s Hannelore Brenner riding Women of the World that emerged victorious over silver medallist Annika Lykke Dlaskov (NOR) and Alfavard April Z, with just .400 separating the top two. Third place went to another German rider, Bettina Eistel riding Fabuleux 5.
Brenner has already claimed two silver medals at Athens and has won numerous gold and silver medals at the European and World Championships. As for Women of the World’s strong character, she claimed to have the “ideal partner” and is looking forward to the Freestyle competition where the harmony between the horse and the rider is freely expressed.
Bettina Eistel is also familiar to the Paralmypic podiums having won two silver medals and a bronze in Athens. Born without arms due to thalidomide damage, she controls the reins with both her mouth and her toes. She began riding at age seven and has amassed an impressive amount of medals since then.
The medallists all commented on the wonderful atmosphere here at the Games, the great competition and quality of the other riders.
The Art of Winning
Individual Grade Ia gold medallist Anne Dunham (GBR) is congratulated by Governing Board Member of the IPC, Alan Dickson during the prize giving ceremony
They were aiming for a fourth team gold, and there was little that could stop them from achieving this… In the lead following the team competition on Sunday, the remainder of the Individual Championship Tests took place this evening for Grades Ia, Ib and III.
For Britain, the undefeated title holder, the evening got off to a great start when Anne Dunham and Sophie Christiansen claimed gold and silver respectively in the Ia competition. And the deal was sealed in the final moments of competition when Lee Pearson also took gold in the Grade Ib Individual Championship test…
Germany fought hard, but the early British lead and the successes they encountered during the Individual Championship tests were irreproachable. Nevertheless, Germany secured secondp place with tow golden performances from Britta Naepel and Hannelore Brenner.
Norway also had some fierce competition edging close to the thrid spot, but they held on successfully with tow silvers – that of Jens Dokkan and Ann Cathrin Lubbe.
Denmark was the unlucky fourth, with just 3 points separating them from Norway…
The winners will have plenty of time to prepare their speeches however as the Prize Giving Ceremony for the team medals will only take place on Thursday.
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