U.S. Para-Dressage Team Secures Gold with Record-Breaking Performance:-
Paro Olympic dressage team earns historic gold in Team final at Paris 2024 paralympic games by Federation eista International and US equestrian Communications Department September 6 2024 3:44 p.m. Versailles France the US Paro Olympic dress team continued to make their Mark in history at the Paris 2024 par Olympic Games securing their second consecutive par Olympic team medal this time standing at top the pod with a historic team gold the team combinations comprised of Rebecca Hart and Florentina grade three Fiona Howard and Diamond Dunes grade 2 and roxand trunnel and Fantastico H grade I each produced incredibly competitive scores all at the 77% Mark or above in the fbii Grand Pre test be to solidify the team’s impressive finish and collect the first team gold in program history their final combined score of 235.567 is the highest paralympic team score ever recorded in the par equestrian discipline.
Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline’s Vision Fulfilled:-
This is the completion of a long timed well-planned dream going back to Tryon 2018 where we started to actually make changes in Tokyo when we won bronze I had a clear plan and strategy in place and in my mind to earn that team medal.
I just knew it had to be gold in Paris for us said Chef da keep Michelle aolin it has been 3 years of very hard work planning Logistics competition strategies both for Europe and in the US the horsepower the coaches and the whole program had to be revamped to get to this point it’s a funny thing to think it’s what I expected but you never want to talk about it openly I had it in mind that this was our goal and here we are this feels like such an amazing accomplishment for everyone who has been involved with this program over the years roxand trunnel Royal Palm Beach Florida and fantastic o were the first combination in for the United States to start their afternoon of Team competition trunnel and fantastic.
Roxanne Trunnell’s Strong Start with Fantastico :-
Who are still a very new combination together having only been partnered since early 2024 produced a competitive score to get the team off to a strong start the duo earned a 77.0% from the judging panel and the 2017 oldenberg gelding fent ball old X welm owned by Karen Flint and cared for by rapael Hernandez gillo again showed his potential with consistent work in the walk with trunnel guiding from the saddle I just really concentrated on him marching said trunnel of her test he’s so cool at only 7 it’s just going to get better and better of the team success she added that Chef da Melle aulin has been a huge part of the growth and confidence for athletes in the program I think it’s Al Michelle he got us in shape he’s very strict.
Fiona Howard Achieves Personal Best with Diamond Dunes:-
I think all his experience has helped us Fiona Howard Boston Massachusetts and Diamond Dunes a 2013 hanovarian gelding delore exella owned by dressage family LLC and Hoff Castleman and cared for by Helen Clare mcnully continued their dominance in grade 2 competition as paralympic debutants the duo earned an 80% the highest score of the week so far in any grade and marking yet another personal best score set by the pair this week as soon as we started the first Trot even just trotting around the ring I really was like he feels really good I went in there and I remembered what my team said just trust him she said what a feeling when you can just trust your horse and he kept giving and giving at the end my muscles were really tired and I just was like keep going buddy and he was like I’ve got you said Howard he’s incredible he’s amazing the pairis sensation jump to the top standings in grade two has been meteoric and Howard commended the support of the team both in Paris and at home for the trajectory of her success with dunes and with the gold medal in hand today the personal best test was just cherry on top of a very sweet week so far for the pair we have an incredible support team behind us everyone from trainers vets faers our Federation everyone is behind us 110% said Howard and obviously we we have an incredible team coach and Michelle aulan.
Rebecca Hart Clinches the Gold for Team USA:-
I think it’s really the teamwork we all support each other and we push each other we’re there for each other in the ups and downs and I think that plays such a big role in it Rebecca Hart Wellington Florida and floraa the most experienced pair on the team and Flora one of the only horses in history to ultimately earn team gold medals at both an able-bodied Continental Championship Lima 2019 and para Continental Championship Paris 2024 we’re tasked with the pressured position of clinching the gold medal after a neck-and-neck battle throughout the day with a very strong Dutch team Hart and the 2008 hanovarian mayor fit Tans X Rina owned by Rowan O’Reilly and cared for by McKenzie young were determined to ensure the US’s Podium position stayed squarely on top the duo earned their second personal best score of the games receiving at 78.5 67% to clinch the dream.
Conclusion:-
Hearts been working towards for nearly 25 years as an athlete within the US para dressage program it still feels surreal it was the culmination of years and years and years of work and I am so wildly proud of all these girls because it’s been a group effort to get this done it wouldn’t have happened without each one of us putting our best foot forward out there said Hart when asked about the impact of the gold medal and what it could mean for the continued success of the US par dressage program Hart said what I’m really really hoping that this success and these medals bring for para is the recognition and the equality of the multiple disciplines within our federations and realization that we are valuable and we can deliver when we need to I think that will help just grow the sport more bringing more sponsors and horse and people and that is what I’m hoping for looking towards the future.