|
Articles: Press Release
The Night the World met Ravel; Peters Delivers Stellar Fourth Place
Performance at 2008 Olympic Games in Dressage
Contact:
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511-8483
Tel: (859) 258-2472
Fax (859) 231-6662
Web site: www.usef.org
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2008
By Joanie Morris
Hong Kong, China - Coming into the Games, Peters was pinned as the best
individual medal hope for the US in recent memory. Riding Akiko
Yamazaki's formerly undefeated 10-year-old KWPN gelding Ravel, Peters
put in a masterful performance in the horse's first effort outside the
US. Anky van Grunsven and Salinero won on the strength of their
freestyle (82.4%), winning her third consecutive Individual gold medal
for The Netherlands on a final score of 76.68%.
"There was a tiny bit of tension in the two-tempis," said Peters after
scoring 76.5% in the freestyle (for a final score of 74.15%). "I had to
risk it, so fourth place at the Olympic Games is not so bad. My horse
lived up to my expectations one hundred percent."
The difference between fourth and bronze medalist Heike Kemmer was .3%.
"Sometimes you have dreams," said Peters who lives in San Diego, CA.
"Today felt like a dream and I felt like I was in charge of it, it just
wasn't quite enough for the bronze. You have to go for it but you also
have to be realistic."
An Olympic veteran from 1996, Peters and Ravel shone to music by the
Talking Heads and the Rolling Stones' Sympathy for the Devil. The lyrics
to the first line of that song are: "Please allow me to introduce
myself..."
No further introductions will be necessary for Ravel, he has made his
presence known.
"This is a great stepping stone for Ravel," said Peters. "I feel like
there is a big future for him."
The future also looks bright for Courtney King-Dye and Mythilus, a
13-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Harmony Amateur Sports Foundation.
They performed their freestyle to the music of Cat Stevens. It was based
around one of King-Dye's favorite songs, Sad Lisa -- although new canter
work was composed since she last performed her freestyle at the USEF
Selection Trials.
Her test gave a great overall impression but she had a couple of costly
mistakes that kept her score lower than expected. Her freestyle score of
69.55% gave her a two-day final score of 70.175%.
"I was really happy," said King-Dye after her test. "I had a mistake in
both the twos and the ones which were very expensive. I took some
chances and had some mistakes. It was a new kur but I think it is a
great one for the future. I did the best I could and he was the best he
could be on the day."
King-Dye thinks that Mythilus may have lost a little bit his sparkle
after such and intense few weeks but she is excited about the horse's
future. King-Dye was competing in her first Olympic Games, and although
she will not take a medal home, she learned more than she ever imagined.
"I loved coming here," she said. "The team unity, being part of this
team was a fantastic experience. I learned so much as an athlete."
Isabell Werth and Satchmo, who were leading coming into the freestyle
ended up with the silver medal after a major disobedience in the piaffe.
Their final score was 76.650%.
For complete results, please see www.equestrian2008.org
. Please contact Joanie Morris at
jmorris@usef.org for more information.
The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation(r) is to provide
leadership
for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the
pursuit
of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a
foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare
of its human and equine athletes.
|
