2000 Olympic Games - Sydney, Australia

Day 5: Australia wins historic equestrian gold medal

19th September 2000 -- The Horsely Park Equestrian Centre in Sydney's west has erupted in celebration following Australia's gold medal victory in the team three-day event.

It is Australia's third Olympic gold medal in a row in this event, a first in the history of the sport. Australia went into the final jumping round with a 12.80-point lead over Great Britain, having led the competition since the first day of dressage. Australia finished with 146.80 penalties, while Great Britain (161.00) fought tenaciously to claim the silver ahead of the United States (175.80). "This has been a mission [of ours] since Atlanta, to see if we can create history and win a third [gold medal]" Matt Ryan told Australian ABC Radio before the victory ceremony, "...and we've done it!"

The win was set up in Monday's cross-country section when the Australian team of Andrew Hoy, Phillip Dutton, Matt Ryan, and Stuart Tinney all managed near-faultless rounds, while Ian Stark of Great Britain's crashed to collect a high penalty score. That meant Australia had four riders whose final scores could count in today's (Tuesday's) jumping round, while Great Britain only had three. Only three scores out of each team's four riders count to the team final score.

The first Australian rider in the jumping, Matt Ryan, collected 12.00 penalty points to increase the tension for the Australian camp, but that evaporated as Great Britain responded in kind. By the time Andrew Hoy, the final Australian rider, went around the challenging course, Australia had the gold in their keeping. Hoy pumped his fist after finishing his round as the parochial crowd lifted the roof off the stadium. It is the 41-year-old Hoy's third gold medal, and a third also for Matt Ryan, who won the individual three-day event at the Barcelona Games.

by Darren Booth for www.olympics.com

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