2004 Paralympic Games - Dressage

Irine Slaettengren Claims Paralympic Gold in Grade II

September 22, 2004

Irene Slaettengren (SWE) claimed the gold medal in the Individual Championship in Grade II. The 52-year-old Swedish rider had an amazing showing in this mornings' final, beating her opponents by a two-point margin.

The Sundsvall native received a total of 72.636%, good enough to earn her the top prize: her first-ever Paralympic gold medal.

This was the fifth Paralympic gold medal for Sweden in Athens, and the first in Equestrian.

Defending Paralympic champion Joop Stokkel (NED - photo right) failed to retain his title. The Dutch rider had problems controlling his horse, Pegasus; he scored 70.545%, settling for the silver medal.

The strongest favourite before the competition, Nic Tustain (GBR), failed to keep up with her compatriots' gold medal expectations. She had to settle for the bronze medal, as the judges evaluated her programme with 68.727%.

Tustain wasn't alone on the third step of the podium. Gert Bolmer, the second Dutch rider taking part in Grade II, reached the same score as Tustain (68.727%). The 21-year-old rider won the bronze in his second Paralympic appearance - in Sydney, Bolmer had claimed the Freestyle Test bronze.

Hannelore Brenner (GER) did not compete in the final because her horse, Fabiola 189, was not fit enough to take part.

Images copyrighted: Dirk Caremans

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