2002 World Equestrian Games

History Is Made At 2002 World Equestrian Games

Silver For The Americans

Klieg lights and flashbulbs lit up Chapin Stadium for the night's Team Medal presentations at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, on August 12, a historic moment in many ways for the fourth-time running of this quadrennial event. After two days of competition in the Grand Prix that included 27 countries and 65 riders, the US dressage team made history by winning their first Silver Medal in a WEG.

The Germans took the Gold for the eighth consecutive time out of the past 10 World Championships, but they were only 115 points ahead of the US, and as their Chef d'Equipe Uwe Mechlem said, "The American team was a very hard competitor for us. It made it exciting for the team and the spectators. We're happy to have this kind of competition. We're friends and now we're much better friends."