Historic Triple for Jung and Celebrations for British
by Philip Barker at Versailles
It was highly appropriate that the Princess Royal should present the team gold medal in eventing to Great Britain on a day when Germany’s individual Champion Michael Jung also wrote a little history.
The Princess, an International Olympic Committee member and British Olympic Association President, competed herself in 1976.
Great Britain had led the competition after the cross-country phase. Both Ros Canter and Tokyo gold medallist Tom McEwen went clear. The last rider Laura Collett sealed gold on London ‘52. France took silver and bronze went to Japan.
McEwen’s JL Dublin is stabled at Gatcombe Park, the residence of the Princess.
It offered a curious connection with the late Queen who had owned one of the horses when Great Britain first won this event in 1956 when the Games were held in Stockholm because of quarantine restrictions in Melbourne.
The Queen’s horse, Countryman V, ridden by Bertie Hill contributed to the victory. The Queen was there to see it with her sister Margaret by her side out on the course.
They invited the victorious team to a celebratory evening on the Royal Yacht Britannia.
It was the second time that Great Britain had won team eventing gold in successive Games.
In Tokyo it had been accomplished in front of empty stands as spectators were not permitted because of COVID precautions.
“Humans. Spectators. It’s been amazing,” admitted McEwen who won his second gold.
“From the cross-country with the noise as you were going around, it’s like a world of noise following you around. Today’s shown off the best of this sport’s abilities.”
At Mexico City 1968 and in Munich, the late Richard Meade had been a member of the team riding Cornishman V and also won individual gold in 1972.
The event this week was the first time a British gold medal had been saluted by “God Save the King” since 1948 when David Bond and Stewart Morris won gold in the sailing.
Michael Jung’s triumph in the individual competition was another sublime moment for he became the first to win three gold medals in the individual event.
“Of course I can remember, but today is just this one and this one is amazing. I think for every athlete it’s a dream to go to the Olympic Games and to have this success again, there are no words for that. It’s unbelievable.”
The first to win two was the Dutchman Charles Pahud de Mortanges in 1928 and 1932 on Marcroix.
Sir Mark Todd repeated the feat with Charisma in 1984 and 1988.
Here, Jung was the last to go on Chipmunk FRH. He went clear in 21.80 to win gold from Christopher Burton of Australia and Collett.
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