Articles: Press Release
Steffen Peters Named USOC Athlete of the Month for April
Contact:
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
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NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2009
By Joanie Morris
Lexington, KY For the first time, a US Dressage Rider has been named by the
United States Olympic Committee (USOC) as the Athlete of the Month.
Steffen Peters was honored for his effort in Las Vegas, NV at the 2009 Rolex
FEI World Cup Final. Riding Ravel, for longtime supporter Akiko Yamazaki,
Peters made history. The pair earned the best score of their career together
in the Freestyle (84.95%) and brought down the house at the Thomas & Mack
Arena on April 18.
This was on the heels of a victory in the Grand Prix two days earlier, their
best test to date, when they first put Anky van Grunsven of The Netherlands
(reigning Olympic Champion and defending World Cup Champion) and Germanys
Isabel Werth (reigning Olympic Silver medalist) on notice that the map of
the dressage world was shifting.
Only the second World Cup Champion in US history, Peters prevailed in both
legs of the hard-fought competition, picking up two Rolex watches and the
coveted title in the process.
We are so proud of what Steffen and Ravel accomplished in Las Vegas, said
Gil Merrick Assistant Executive Director of Sport Programs for the United
States Equestrian Federation. It is a huge honor to have one of our athletes
recognized as the USOC Athlete of the Month. The most exciting part about
Steffen and Ravel is that they continue to improve at every competition. We
look forward to what the future holds for this fantastic combination.
Also honored in April were Hockey Player Caitlin Cahow, and the US Womens
National Hockey Team. Monthly, a male, female and team are awarded these
honors by the USOC.
ENDS
Attached is a photo of Steffen Peters and Ravel from the 2009 Rolex FEI
World Cup Final. Please only use with this release and credit Shannon
Brinkman.
Please contact Joanie Morris at jmorris@usef.org with media requests for
Peters. For more information about the USOC Athlete of the Month Program,
please contact the USOC Communications Division at (719) 866-4529.
The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation 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.
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