press_ dressage

The other American score:

14. Gunther Seidel (USA), Aragon - 70.270 %

The Ground Jury:

Beatrice Burchler-Keller (SUI)
Wojciech Markowski (POL)
Dieter Schuele (GER), President
Francis Verbeek van Rody (NED)
Marietta Withages (BEL)

Please note: Markowski (POL) and Verbeek van Ridy (NED) have replaced Stephen Clarke (GBR) and Vincenzo Truppa (ITA).

FEDERATION EQUESTRE INTERNATIONALE
OLYMPIC UPDATE 23 AUGUST 2004

Anky van Grunsven performs the best Grand Prix Special. Ulla Salzgeber's advantage narrowed to half a point

German favourite Ulla Salzgeber lost her advantage further to the windy conditions brought on by the Meltemi (the wind off the Aegean Sea). After several mistakes from her 16-year-old gelding Rusty, mainly in the flying changes, the German rider has now a slight advantage on 76.524 % finishing her Grand Prix Special on a score of 74.84%.

Defending Gold medallist Anky van Grunsven (NED) on Salinero narrowed the gap and is now on a score of 76.004 % after winning today's competition with 77.8 %. Salinero coped well with today's windy conditions after two training sessions in the morning and nearly bucking his rider off at the first work out early morning.

"I don't feel like (I am) defending my title, as my gold medal in Sydney was obtained with Bonfire. Now I only want to concentrate on my own riding" explained the Dutch star. "Salinero is a hot horse" she continues, "But he fits me well. He is only 10 year-old and I hope he will grow older and
wiser, and settle down a little."

Third place before the Final went to Beatriz Ferrer Salat (ESP) on Beauvalais who rode the second best performance in today's Grand Prix Special.

Debbie McDonald (USA) and Brentina are now ranked fourth, delivering the third best test of the day.

The best 15 riders at the end of the second qualifier will compete in the Final test, the Freestyle to Music (Kür) to take place on 25 August afternoon.

Relative Values in Dressage:

Imke Schellekens (NED) is also following in her mother's footsteps. The 27-year-old Dutch rider is the daughter of Tineke Bartels, who was on the silver medal winning teams both in Atlanta and Barcelona. Imke is 13th and will participate in the Final.

Sven Rothenberger is taking part in his second Olympic Games. In Atlanta in 1996, Sven was on the podium to receive team silver for the Netherlands alongside his wife Gonnelien. Svebn Rothenberger (who) could not make it to the Top 15 and will therefore not participate in the Final.

Marlies Van Baalen (24) is representing The Netherlands at her first Olympic Games. Her mother, Coby, was a member of the silver medal winning team at the Sydney 2000 Games.

The youngest rider in the equestrian events, 18-year-old Austrian Dressage rider Victoria Max-Theurer is the daughter of Sissy Max-Theurer who competed in Barcelona in 1992 and won gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Muriel Faienza
Communication Manager
Federation Equestre Internationale
m.faienza@horsesport.org
www.horsesport.org
T +41 21 310 47 47

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Below are quotes from the three Americans who rode in the Grand
Prix Special:

Deborah McDONALD (USA):
On her performance

"I am very excited. I had a few mistakes in the transitions and the noise coming from the flags affected her more than I had thought it would. In general it was not something that bothered me a lot".

Robert DOVER (USA):
On his performance

"It was fun to ride today. Everyday I learn something more about my horse. He is a wonderful animal. Everything went great today except the second pirouette that I overcollected. I am very happy with the score though when I finished I felt so satisfied that it didn't matter. Today I trusted the horse and I let him lead the way. He prooved that he gives a lot when I let him. On Saturday I was too worried about the Team result".

On the Olympic Games:

"I learned a lot since the last Olympic Games. I am thrilled today because my parents were watching me and they saw me doing a good job".

Guenter SEIDEL (USA):
On his perfomance and the marks he got from the judges

"I enjoyed the beginning of our programme, my horse was very good. As we went on we got better and better. As for my marks I would describe them to be fair, but generally I believe that the U.S team was marked very hard by the judges".

On his horse ARAGON

"It is quite noisy out there because of the wind and the flags moving. My horse got a little bit worried that is why he swifted his tail all the time. He tried so hard, he didn't make many mistakes".

On why he didn't parade with ARAGON after the Team medals ceremony
"He is really nervous and I didn't want him to hurt anybody. He can get out of control sometimes. He gets hypered in the arena, but in the stables he is more relaxed, he even sleeps when he is travelling by plane".

On the close competition in Dressage

"This time in Athens there have been about five teams competing to take a medal back home. This is fair, how it always should be and the countries get better in Dressage year after year".