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Team USA continued their spectacular Para Equestrian performance at the Paris 2024 Paralympics as they won Team gold on Friday.
The American team took their third title in the Paris 2024 Para Equestrian programme, with team members Fiona Howard (Diamond Dunes) and Rebecca Hart (Floratina) adding to their Individual golds. Roxanne Trunnell, who achieved silver in Grade I with Fan Tastico H, was also part of the triumphant US team.
Howard’s stunning 80.000% was the highest individual score of the Paris 2024 Paralympics to date and was enough to secure the win.
The Netherlands, who are the current World champions, finished in the silver medal position, while Germany took bronze.
Italy came fourth, with hosts France in fifth - one place better than their Tokyo 2020 finish. Great Britain – who had won every Team title since 1996 – finished in sixth position.
Close contest
Sixteen teams line up at the esplanade alongside the iconic Palace of Versailles to contest the Team medals. The stands were filled with flag wavers and fans dressed in the colours of their home nations.
Three athletes from each country’s four representatives were chosen by their Chef d’Equipe to compete for their team. Their selection was based on their performances in the Individual event and how well they would fare in the Team Para Grand Prix B test.
It was neck and neck between the USA, who dominated the Individual medals, and the Netherlands throughout the day. But in the end, Grade II Individual gold medalist Howard’s score was the high score of the day and the only one to break the 80 percent barrier.
Teammates Roxanne Trunnell, who won a Grade I Individual silver on Tuesday with Fan Tastico H, and Grade III gold medalist Rebecca Hart with Floratina posted 77.000 and 78.567 percent respectively to seal the deal for the Stars and Stripes.
Dutch win silver again
With the USA on 235.567 points in total, the Netherlands had their work cut out for them. Sanne Voets (Demantur), Demi Haerkens (Daula), and Rixt van der Horst (Royal Fonq) finished on 232.850 collectively, not surprising, as they were all hot off Individual medals earlier in the week. It wasn’t enough to pip the Americans, but it was good enough to repeat their Tokyo position at the awards ceremony.
Germany ended the event on 223.116 percent overall. Grade V silver medallist Regine Mispelkamp was their highest score with Highlander Delight’s, earning 75.500 percent from the five international judges. Anna-Lena Niehues (Quimbaya 6) and Heidemarie Dresing (Doolop) picked up 75.351 and 72.900 percent. That placed them less than 1 point above fourth-place Italy, led by Grade I bronze medal winner Sara Morganti and Mariebelle on 79.458 percent.
Belgium finished seventh, followed by Denmark, Austria, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Norway, Sweden, Singapore, and Finland.
Para Dressage ends on Saturday with the Freestyle competition. The top eight Individual finishers for each grade will have one more chance to bring home the metal.
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