Team GB added a fourth equestrian medal to their Paris 2024 collection after winning an impressive team dressage bronze.
Seven-time Olympian Carl Hester, Lottie Fry and debutant Becky Moody scored a combined 232.492% to secure their spot on the podium at Chateau de Versailles, placing behind gold medallists Germany and Denmark in silver.
It’s the fourth consecutive Olympics that Team GB have medalled in the event, with Hester part of all four podium performances dating back to gold in London 2012.
Speaking on whether this was his toughest Games to date, Hester said: "Every one for no particular reason does get tougher because of expectations, delivery and how you feel with the world watching you nowadays in sport and the fact of not letting anybody down.
"Luckily for all of us, if you’re a competitor and you’re a horse person, once you’re on your horse it all just disappears. It’s the 23 hours every day between riding where you’re left to think about the whole thing and the competition and the sport.
"That’s why it gets more difficult but I’m still standing so I’m going to have one more sleepless night and go for tomorrow [in the individual dressage final]."
Moody was a late addition to the team after being promoted from reserve just 10 days ago, but went on to rise to the occasion on her Olympic debut.
She scored a personal best of 76.489% on Jagerbomb to put her team top of the standings after the opening group of riders.
"You dream of coming to an Olympic Games and getting a personal best, so that was amazing,” Moody said.
"Two weeks ago I was expecting to come for a lovely 10-day holiday in France, to be inspired, learn, and go home better.
"Having to do this, there's been a bit of nausea but it's been an amazing experience with an incredible team around me.
"What an incredible stadium and the crowd were fantastic and my horse was a total legend. I think because I bred him and we've done everything together, he's just a total dude - a lovely, lovely horse."
After Moody’s strong start, Hester scored 76.520% on Fame to give Team GB a healthy buffer over the Netherlands in the race for bronze.
Fry then produced a spellbinding test to score 79.483% on Glamourdale to guarantee a medal for the British trio.
"I had an amazing ride today," Fry said. "We made some big improvements from the Grand Prix and I was so happy with him [Glamourdale].
"I feel like there’s still quite a bit left in the tank for tomorrow which is really exciting but in there today he made me very proud, he did some amazing things and it was an incredible feeling to ride in that arena - basically sold-out and we had a lot of fun, both of us.
"He was a bit more relaxed than the other day and I think the whole canter work felt absolutely incredible and he just loved it, he was so cool."
Sportsbeat 2024