Olympics
Due to a few technical problems, we unfortunately received photographer Shannon Brinkman’s final blog a little later than we’d hoped. But don’t worry, it’s a real doozy! Relive all the excitement of watching our US team members compete in the final phase of this year’s Olympic Games. Enjoy!
Just over a month ago, freelancer Mary Jordan interviewed Gina Miles, who won the individual silver medal on Monday night at the Olympics with her longtime partner McKinlaigh. Obviously, we haven’t had the opportunity to chat with Gina since that glorious moment, but we thought our readers would enjoy reading about Gina’s thoughts and goals leading up to the Games. Did she accomplish those goals? I think we’d all agree she most certainly did! Look for this profile, along with many others as well as full Olympic coverage, in the upcoming issue of Eventing USA!
Be sure to check out Gina’s journal from her Olympic experience!
(Photos by Shannon Brinkman)
Photos by Shannon Brinkman
 Go Gina! You earned it! Your win was the silver lining on the US Team experience and you should be incredibly proud… I know we are! |
 A quiet moment for Gina and McKinlaigh - the bond between these two is extraordinary. What a special pair! |
 Gina shares a hug on the podium with individual and team gold medallist Hinrich Romeike of Germany, and individual bronze medallist Kristina Cook of Great Britain. |
 Gina and McKinlaigh beaming from ear to ear during their victory gallop while the crowd cheers them - what a special moment! |
 “Woo hoo, we did it!” |
 McKinlaigh didn’t touch a single rail the entire day - quite a feat for this massive Irish Sport Horse - but then again, he’s always been a lovely show jumper! |
 Picture perfect as always! |
Story and Photos by Shannon Brinkman
Planning my day out at Beas River consists of many things like making sure all the batteries are charged, digital cards ready, asking myself exactly what equipment to bring, studying the locations of fences so I know where I am going and underlining the Americans and top riders on the order of go so that I make sure I get photos of everyone that the magazines will need to publish. I guess the complex part is to trust my inner compass to guide me in capturing the best possible pictures I can do!
In a brilliant display of jumping, Gina Miles and Thom Schulz and Laura Coats’ Irish Sport Horse gelding McKinlaigh jumped to the silver medal at the Olympic Games.
In a nail biting finish, Gina put the pressure on Hinrich Romeike and Marius by riding McKinlaigh to his second clear round of the day, but Marius rose to the occasion to also jump a clear round to take the gold.
The USEA sends congratulations to Gina and McKinlaigh, Tom and Laura, Gina’s dedicated groom, coach Captain Mark Phillips, and the whole support team in Hong Kong. This is a great day for U.S. eventing!
The French team were in shock last night after the last-minute withdrawal of their top combination, Nicolas Touzaint and his horse Galan de Savagere.
The decision came as Touzaint was in the warm-up arena preparing to ride his dressage test. The French had already suffered a major blow last week when Athens Olympic champions, Jean Teulere and Espoir de La Mare, withdrew after the horse aggravated an old tendon injury.
Photographer Shannon Brinkman shares the cross-country walk with course designer Michael Etherington-Smith. When we left Shannon last, she was describing this picturesque and challenging course… read as she finishes up the course, and celebrates the brilliant performances of the US team in the dressage phase!
Photographer Shannon Brinkman shares her journey to the Games and gives the inside scoop on the cross-country course! The excitement is building… can you feel it? Don’t forget to log on to NBC.com to check out the video line-up. Tonight, they’ll be streaming eventing dressage (I think…) at 6:30PM!
Read the first journal entry of Shannon’s trip below! (P.S. All photos are by Shannon, of course!)
2004 team bronze medalists: Tryon and Mark Hart’s Poggio will assume their typical lead-off role tomorrow morning, this will be the first US combination in the ring at 6.58 a.m. Miles and Thom Schulz and Laura Coats’ McKinlaigh will go second for the US, Holder and Courageous Comet (who she owns with her husband Tom) will round out Saturday’s session - going in the evening. O’Connor (at her fourth Olympic Games) and Joan Goswell’s Mandiba will go fourth for the US and (two-time gold medalist) Dutton will ride Rolex winner Connaught (owned by Bruce Duchossois) in the anchor spot.
Check out these great photos below by Shannon Brinkman!
Marilyn Payne, one of the eventing dressage judges at the Olympics, shares her tale of her experiences so far at the Olympics.
Due to my flight delay I finally arrived at midnight Tuesday night. Wednesday morning I woke up after four hours sleep to a typhoon ( and 8 out of 10 !). So, buses weren’t allowed out and the barns were all "locked down" until six that evening. But, as dedicated officials, we were driven to the cross-country course and walked the entire course with the technical delegate and course designer so it could be approved before the rider briefing at 6pm.
Bad Behavior has blocked 336 access attempts in the last 7 days.