Denmark claims Olympic dressage silver in agonisingly close team final at Paris 2024
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Denmark has clocked its best ever result in the contest for the Olympic dressage team medals at Paris 2024. But it came down to the wire with Germany finishing just 0.12% ahead to clinch the gold, while Great Britain took the bronze.
Denmark’s anchorwoman, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour, produced a pleasing test with Freestyle with just one mistake in the one-time changes to score 81.21%. Notably this was the best score of the grand prix special and, following a slightly below par performance from reigning Olympic and European champions Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB, tomorrow’s freestyle for the individual medals promises to be a wide open competition.
Daniel Bachmann Andersen (Vayron) and Nanna Skodborg Merrald (Zepter) were also crucial in helping Denmark secure their landmark Olympic dressage team medal. They scored 75.97% and 78.48% respectively.
Daniel trended at around 81% during his trot work, but tension crept in as he and Vayron, a 13-year-old stallion, moved into canter.
“He’s only been doing grand prix for two years and has never in a stadium like this. So overall I’m happy with his development the way he is.,” explained Daniel. “He’s a big boy and he has a lot of charisma but he’s also a bit shy inside.”
Nanna, who is reigning individual European silver medallist with Zepter, had a couple of mistakes in both the two-time tempi-changes and a transition between passage and piaffe.
“The mistakes kept me under 80% – that’s how it is and I’m really happy with him and the type of performance we provided,” said Nanna.
Great Britain finished 3.17% behind Denmark to take the final spot on the podium.
More to follow…
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