JUSTIN VERBOOMEN GIVES BELGIUM THEIR FIRST GOLD AT THE FEI DRESSAGE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP IN CROZET
IN AN EXCITING FINALE AT THE FEI DRESSAGE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP, BELGIUM'S JUSTIN VERBOOMEN PULLED OFF A SHOCKING UPSET, CLAIMING HIS NATION'S FIRST-EVER GOLD MEDAL.
Rding his young stallion Zonik Plus, Verboomen's flawless Grand Prix Special test sent a jolt through the arena, scoring a stunning 82.371% and rocketing them into an improbable lead.
The drama intensified as two titans of the sport took their turns. “Queen of dressage”, legendary Isabell Werth, the most decorated athlete in dressage history, delivered a powerful performance, but a costly error in her one-tempi changes left her short, earning her the bronze. Then, Denmark's Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour put on a spectacular ride, yet her clean test was not enough to surpass Verboomen's incredible score, landing her the silver.
As the final competitors rode the suspense was intense. When it was all said and done, the unshakeable Verboomen held his ground, securing a historic gold and cementing his place as a new force in the world of dressage.
--ENDS--
Full results here
Photos by FEI/Leanjo de Koster
Photo Gallery
Prev 1 of 3 Next
