Laura Collett win Olympic eventing individual bronze medal for Britain

Laura Collett gained her first particular person senior championship medal with an distinctive efficiency on this afternoon’s Olympic ultimate to safe bronze simply hours after serving to Britain to historic eventing workforce gold.

Germany’s Michael Jung was topped particular person champion for a 3rd time, successful Olympic eventing gold with Chipmunk FRH, whereas Australia’s Chris Burton took particular person silver with comparatively new trip Shadow Man.

“My family and friends are right here so we’re planning to have a giant social gathering – many events – this stuff doesn’t occur typically and I plan to have a good time!” stated Laura.

“It was excellent climate, picturesque background and the right consequence.”

She added: “The most effective man gained, [Michael] is a genius, who has made everybody of us trip so a lot better. We nonetheless haven’t realized find out how to beat him however possibly sooner or later we’ll.”

Laura and London 52 – the only mixture from the gold medal-winning British workforce in Tokyo – had unfinished enterprise coming into these Video games.

Their CV is awash with main wins, information, championship appearances. Laura’s personal medal haul consists of youth and younger horse particular person gongs. However there remained a spot, within the form of a person senior championship medal – a spot now crammed by advantage of her excellent horsemanship throughout all three phases in Paris, with this very particular gelding.

The pair set a brand new Olympic report dressage rating of 17.5 on the opening day, adopted by a cross-country leaping clear – crossing the road two seconds over the optimum time, which Laura attributed to taking further care on the turns after London 52 misplaced a shoe. Their first showjumping spherical – the place that they had one rail and 0.8 of a time-penalty – clinched gold for the workforce, whereas their clear within the second earned Laura a spot on the person podium.

London 52, who Laura owns with Keith Scott and Karen Bartlett, was flawless within the showjumping spherical to determine the person medals. In doing so, Laura turns into the primary British lady to achieve a person Olympic eventing podium since Tina Prepare dinner in 2008.

Laura’s path to this second has been robust. Previous championships haven’t at all times gone absolutely to plan. She misplaced the sight in one in all her eyes in a fall that just about claimed her life in 2013.

London 52, whereas at all times high quality, has needed to learn to go throughout nation. It’s been a lifetime’s work for each – collectively – to achieve this second.

“I simply need each little one on the market to grasp that you may by no means dream too large,” stated Laura, 34, after serving to Britain to the workforce title this morning.

Within the backdrop of the palace of the Solar King, the sky is the restrict…

Extra to observe…

You may also be interested by:

H&H senior information author

Lucy is an skilled information journalist, reporter and presenter. Since becoming a member of the Horse & Hound workforce in 2015, Lucy has reported from main international sporting occasions together with the Tokyo Paralympic Video games and a number of European Championships, in addition to Badminton, Burghley and London, to call just a few. She has lined present affairs and sports activities information throughout the complete spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, in addition to human and equine welfare, business information and courtroom circumstances.