The US Olympic Dressage Team could not be any more proud of their collective efforts, which resulted in a team Bronze and a well-deserved place on the podium.
This stellar result was a triumphant turn-around after disappointing US dressage team results at the 2008 & 2012 Olympics.
The 2016 USA Olympic medal team, which consisted of Allison Brock, Laura Graves, Kasey Perry-Glass and Steffen Peters, based this year’s success on their cohesion as a team, not on their separate performances. The 2016 Olympic team proved that dressage is more than an individual sport!
In an interview with the USEF, Orlando Florida resident Laura Graves commented, “I’m just so happy, I believe in a system, following a routine, and finding a trainer you trust and staying with them. I’m so blessed that both Robert [Dover] and my personal trainer, Debbie McDonald, have sacrificed so much of their time this summer to be over in Europe with the Team and it really has made a difference.”
The final result certainly was due to the combined effort of the entire US Dressage Team and their coaches, but it is also noteworthy to mention the contribution of Laura Graves and Verdades. This pair performed a personal best in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special before earning a score of 85.196% in the Freestyle, secure team USA their Bronze medal!
Team Results:
Germany won the Gold medal and Great Britain took home Silver and the US team took home the Bronze!
Detailed Individual Results:
Defending Olympic Champions Charlotte Dujardin of Great Britain and her mount Valegro, a 14-year- old KWPN gelding, who are also World and European Champions, claimed their second consecutive Olympic Individual Gold medal, topping the field with an impressive score of 93.857%. Germany’s Isabell Werth and the 11-year- old Oldenburg mare Weihegold Old, claimed the Individual Silver with a score of 89.071%, making medals (six Gold and four Silver). Teammate Kristina Broring-Sprehe and the 15-year-old Hanoverian stallion Desperados FRH took the Individual Bronze medal with a score of 87.142%.
Wellington Equestrian Realty is proud of our Florida residents Laura Graves and Allison Brock, plus the entire US Dressage team who compete on a regular basis in Wellington at the Global Dressage Festival. Congratulations on a spectacular result.