THE British eventing team secured a record-breaking fifth Olympic team title at the Paris Olympic Games today (Monday), cementing their position as the most successful team in the sport's Olympic history.

The eventing medal was Britain’s first of the entire Paris Olympics. Tom McEwen (JL Dublin), Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo) and Laura Collett (London 52) finished on a team total of 91.30 to hold off a challenge from the home nation of France (103.60), who took silver, while it was a historic first-ever eventing team medal for Japan (115.80), who landed the bronze against all odds.

Michael Jung won the individual gold for the third time in his career, ahead of Australia's Christopher Burton in silver and Collett took the bronze.

The stadium at the fabulous Chateau de Versailles was packed to capacity, with 16,000 screaming fans for an exciting final day, which began with a dramatic horse inspection. Japan, who were in bronze medal position following cross-country, had to add 20 penalties for a substitution when Ryuzo Kitajima’s horse Cekatinka was withdrawn after being sent to the hold box.

They slipped off the podium and it looked like the Olympic dream was over, however, three clear jumping rounds (two of them with time faults) for Toshiyuko Tanaka (Jefferson), Kazuma Tomoto (Vinci de la Vigne) and Yoshiaki Oiwa (MGH Grafton Street (ISH)) saw them claw their way back, after a tussle with Belgium, and take the bronze.

A dream

“For many years, this was a dream,” said Oiwa who, mounted on the Martin J Collins-bred MGH Grafton Street (OBOS Quality), is based with Pippa Funnell in England. “We had the Tokyo Olympics and then we didn't make it and we tried once more here and finally it happened. All the riders are more than 10 years staying in Europe, this is a lot of work for riders, and sacrifice. Our kids and family are in Japan, but we had to come to the UK to have a proper system to train.”

The riders, who were all previously show jumpers, but got a team together to ride at their home Games in Tokyo, now expect to go back to Japan on the Japanese Federation’s wish. Tomoto commented: “I really, really want to carry on to the Los Angeles Olympics, but I'm not sure if my Japanese boss will say 'you're finished, come back'!”

British dominance

For Britain, it was back-to-back gold medals and another bit of history made in Paris. Laura Collett (London 52), Tom McEwen (JL Dublin) and Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo) led from the front, when setting a record team dressage score on Saturday. Their path to gold also wasn’t without drama, when Canter picked up 15 penalties across the country, but in the end, clears from McEwen and four faults from Collett and Canter meant they took the gold.

Speaking after that first round of show jumping, before she went on to win individual bronze, Collett said: “Riding into that stadium was an experience that I don't think I'll ever, ever have again. I just needed to focus on trying to get the job done and it was a brilliant performance from my horse again today and, I've said it a million times but I can't say it enough, I owe him everything, he is my horse of a lifetime.

“I'm so proud of the team, we showed fighting spirit today and it turns out we're all quite good under pressure.”

Laura Collett and London 52 \ Tomas Holcbecher

Canter added: “I know the pressure was on us to win the gold, but to actually do it just feels absolutely amazing.”

Bitter taste

On her 15 penalties for missing a flag on the cross-country, which she unsuccessfully appealed but was not given a decision until late into Sunday night, she added: “Yesterday carried on for a lot longer than it should have. It would have been lovely to have had a bit of time to celebrate and enjoy what happened yesterday and so far, we haven't been able to do that.

“It's left a little bit of a bitter taste at the moment and I feel unbelievably sorry for Lordship Graffalo’s owners, who have been such phenomenal supporters of mine. They found the whole thing quite a hard pill to swallow. But we know we've got the best cross-country horse in the world. We think he gave everybody an absolutely stellar performance yesterday.”

Fanatical

It didn’t all go to plan for the French team, who came into the team final in the silver medal position after a fabulous day across the country. Four fences down across the three riders made for nervous viewing for the fanatical home crowd, however, they went wild when last to jump, Stephane Landois (Chaman Dumontceau), finished with 4.40 penalties to secure a place on the podium.

It is the third team medal in-a-row at an Olympic Games for France, who won team gold in Rio 2016 and team bronze three years’ ago in Tokyo. “When Stephane crossed the line, I thought ‘we did it’! It’s been a lot of pressure for a long time, so knowing we have this medal is a big relief," said Nicolas Touzaint (Diabolo Menthe). The third team member was the charismatic Karim Florent Laghouag (Triton Fontaine).

Team Belgium finished fourth, ahead of Switzerland and Sweden. The USA had a disappointing campaign to place seventh, and so too did the Kiwis in eighth. Ninth was the team from Ireland, who finished on a final score of 157.10.

The French crowd chanted ‘allez les blues’ during the medal ceremony, which ended a truly sensational eventing competition, with the backdrop of the palace of Versailles.

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