Tokyo Olympics: New horse, same result for Dujardin as London and Rio winner soars into finals

New horse, same result for Team GB’s Charlotte Dujardin as London and Rio gold medallist soars into individual and team dressage final in Tokyo


Charlotte Dujardin proved that the loss of the horse she had ridden to Olympic glory in London and Rio need not deny her more success, as she and her new gelding Gio reached the individual and team dressage final.

Dujardin, whose horse Valegro retired after they won a third gold together in 2016, nailed her first Olympic ride with Gio to qualify in fourth place for the individual dressage final, along with 25-year-old Charlotte Fry, who rode superbly on Saturday.    

‘I couldn’t have asked for any more from (Gio),’ she said. ‘He is just unbelievable – he gives me everything he has got.

Charlotte Dujardin and Gio have made it to the individual and team dressage final in Tokyo 

‘I really felt emotional towards the end of the test. He adjusts to whatever I ask and gives me his best.

‘It could have been a full house today and he would have performed the same. He is such a pocket rocket.

‘That to me, tonight, was as good as winning. For me, where he is right now with his training, he couldn’t have done any more.

Dujardin has to retire her horse Valegro after Rio, but she has once again stormed to the finals

Dujardin has to retire her horse Valegro after Rio, but she has once again stormed to the finals

‘And that to me, is like a gold medal. It was one of those really special moments and I will remember it forever and a day.’ 

Carl Hester, who at 54 is the oldest Team GB member in Tokyo, will compete in Wednesday’s individual final, in addition to the British team qualifying in second place for the team competition final tomorrow.

The qualifying round has revealed Germany’s supreme quality — they will now be firm favourites to win individual and team gold. 

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