Bredow-werndl ends Dujardin’s reign in dressage individual final

TOKYO: Jessica von Bredow-werndl of Germany was crowned Olympic dressage individual champion on Wednesday, ending British star Charlote Dujardin’s nine-year reign.

The 35-year-old posted a score of 91.732 percent ater a sublime performance on TSF Dalera to add the gold to her team title on Tuesday.

Her fellow German Isabell Werth took silver (89.657 percent) to extend her record haul of equestrian Olympic medals to 12.

Dujardin -- who won at London 2012 and Rio 2016 -- may have lost her title but her face was wreathed in smiles as she took bronze to move onto six career Olympic medals and overtake rower Katherine Grainger as the most decorated British female athlete.

“This is a very proud moment for me and I am overwhelmed,” said Dujardin.

“It’s just so surreal. People say it and I can’t quite believe it.

“Being level with Katherine Grainger was good enough, and now I have beaten her, it’s incredible. I can honestly say I am proud of myself.

“To win medals individually and team in the last three Games, I couldn’t be prouder. To do it with a new dance partner, I couldn’t be prouder.”

Von Bredow-werndl was the fith from last rider to go and she watched anxiously as the ‘Queen of Dressage’, as Werth is known, performed two rides later. The tension reached fever pitch as Werth’s display drew to an end and the sizeable audience of different team members and support staff -- making up for the absence of spectators due to Covid-19 -- clapped along to the final tune.

As Werth punched the air in delight at her display von Bredow paced up and down nervously.

However, as Werth exited the arena the score flashed up and it confirmed von Bredow had retained the lead.

Von Bredow could not hold back her emotion, sobbing and turning away to be led off to the saddling area.

“When I hard her (Werth) results I had to cry,” said Von Bredow.