In the last round of showjumping at Tokyo Equestrian Park, the team put on a convincing performance.
After Sunday’s cross-country, Townend, Collett, and McEwen were ahead of the pack by 17.9 penalties.
O. Townend Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
McEwen scored a perfect score on Toledo De Kerser, Collett had four faults on London 52, and Townend scored four faults on Ballaghmor Class, yet they still came out on top.
As a team, Great Britain won the gold medal in eventing at the Olympics for the first time since Munich in 1972; Australia came in second and France third.
The British team was so dominant that even if Townend, the final rider, knocked down four obstacles, he would still win gold.
The three British riders, all of whom were making their Olympic debuts, put up outstanding performances to end their country’s 49-year gold medal drought.
The current equestrian eventing world champion, Britain’s Oliver Townend, maintained a perfect score on the cross-country circuit on Sunday to take the lead, while Germany’s Michael Jung dropped to a disappointing 10th place.
After two of the three phases of eventing (horse triathlon), Great Britain is in the lead for the gold medal, with Australia in second and France in third.
Showjumping on Monday will determine whether Germany’s Julia Krajewski can defend her silver medal position and Britain’s Laura Collett can defend her bronze medal standing after dressage and cross country.
With a flawless ride on Ballaghmor Class on the Cross Country day of Equestrian Eventing at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in Sea Forest, Great Britain’s Oliver Townend, the current world number one, reclaimed the individual lead he acquired on the first day of the Dressage phase.
Along with Laura Collett (London 52) and Tom McEwen (Toledo de Kresker), who both rode faultlessly, the British team has a four-fence advantage going into the final Jumping phase tomorrow.
While reigning Olympic champion Michael Jung of Germany dropped to a dismal 10th place, Britain’s world number one Oliver Townend claimed the lead in the equestrian eventing on Sunday, keeping a clean sheet on the cross-country circuit.
After I got the hang of the course, I was able to establish speedy, nearly racing distances to the simple fences, and he responded magnificently.
Although the first two waters weren’t what I expected, the early lengths were still very manageable, and I have a great deal of faith in Derek di Grazia’s course design.
I believe he is one of, if not the finest in the world at what he does, and when I anticipate a certain distance, I am confident that it will be a secure one regardless of the outcome.
Team event leaders are world number one Oliver Townend, Laura Collett, and Tom McEwen, followed by Australia and France.
Topping the Individual Standings is Townend, with Collett in third and McEwen in sixth place.
On Monday, the teams competing for medals will compete in one round of showjumping at 9:45 a.m. BST, and then the top individuals will compete in another round at 12:45 p.m.
Only two British riders, Richard Meade in 1972 and Leslie Law in 2004, have ever won an individual eventing gold medal. Britain’s only team gold medal in this sport was earned 49 years ago in Munich.
