Gladstone, NJ-March 4, 1998
The United States Equestrian Team (USET) has named endurance rider Danielle Kanavy of Fort Valley, VA as USET Athlete of the Month for February 1998. Kanavy won the award after she dramatically fought to a third place finish despite a broken stirrup in an international competition on February 25 at the site of 1998 World Endurance Championships in Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates. On behalf of the United Arab Emirates Equestrian & Racing Federation, Kanavy was invited, as the reigning World Champion, by Faisal Seddiq M. Samea Al Mutawa, Secretary General of the United Arab Emirates to lease Beau Diddley for the CEI-A ride. The horse had recently been sold by American Amy Wallace Whelan to H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates.

This generous invitation almost provided Kanavy with the winning horse she needed as Beau Diddley's new owner H.H. Sheikh Mohammed won the 160 kilometer race in a time of 9:08:05 and his son Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum followed directly behind by less than one second. Kanavy placed third with a time of 9:18:29. With 49 starters from eight countries beginning the event, 24 completed the 100-mile ride behind Kanavy, winner of team and individual Gold Medals at the 1996 World Championships in Manhattan, Kansas. According to USET Director of Endurance Activities, Mary Lutz, "Danielle was focused and continued to pursue first place even after her stirrup broke-she showed what it takes to be a World Champion and made all of us proud!" The USET proudly instituted its Athlete of the Month program in 1997 to recognize and reward stellar achievements, acts of enrichment, or meritorious participation by USET athletes.