Paris, August 04, 2024, The Europe Today: German dressage rider Jessica von Bredow-Werndl continued her impressive Olympic gold streak on Sunday, triumphing in the individual dressage event at the Paris Olympics. This victory follows her team gold win alongside Isabell Werth and Frederic Wandres just a day earlier.
Event Highlights
Von Bredow-Werndl, 38, delivered a spectacular freestyle Grand Prix routine atop her mare Dalera, executing complex and difficult maneuvers to a medley of French chanson music. Her performance earned her a score of 90.093 percentage points, placing her ahead of fellow German Isabell Werth and Britain’s Charlotte Fry.
Werth, 55, also dazzled the 15,000 spectators with a gala performance set to a pastiche of Barry Manilow’s romantic ballad “Mandy,” cleverly rewritten as “Wendy” to honor her mare. Werth secured a score of 89.614, while Fry, riding Glamourdale, received 88.971 points.
A Repeat Victory
For von Bredow-Werndl, this gold marks a repeat of her double victory at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Her continued excellence in dressage has solidified her status as a top competitor on the international stage.
Record-Breaking Achievements
The day prior, von Bredow-Werndl and Werth celebrated their team Grand Prix gold. Despite the quick turnaround, both riders delivered outstanding individual performances the following day.
Werth’s narrow victory in the team event made her Germany’s most decorated Olympian, with a total of eight gold and six silver medals. This surpasses the previous record held by canoeist Birgit Fischer, who boasts eight gold and four silver medals.
“That’s very, very special,” Werth remarked about her record. “Of course, that makes me proud.”
Reflecting on her achievements, she added, “I’m going for a drink with Birgit soon. We both really achieved something.”
Looking Ahead
As the Paris Olympics continue, the triumphs of Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Isabell Werth highlight the enduring strength and skill of German dressage riders. Their performances not only inspire fellow athletes but also captivate audiences worldwide, reaffirming their place in Olympic history.
