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Third's a charm

Germans win third straight dressage gold

Top point-scorer Isabelle Werth of Germany will attempt to add an individual medal to her team gold. AP

SYDNEY, Australia (CNNSI.com) -- Germany beat the Netherlands by 53 points Wednesday to win its third consecutive team dressage gold medal.

The United States took the bronze.

Germany finished with 5,632 points to edge out their longtime rival the Netherlands and win its seventh team dressage title since the Tokyo Olympics in 1964.

"I never lost the belief that the team would win, but if you had asked the question yesterday, I would have said 'wait until the end,'" said team leader Anton Fischer, who retires after 27 years at the helm.

"It's the best you can do, retiring with a gold medal," he said.

A clutch performance on the last ride of the day gave the United States an Olympic bronze. Christine Traurig's ride on Etienne edged the United States past Denmark.

The leading riders leaders who will carry their scores over to Thursday's individual competition are Isabel Werth of Germany on Gigolo with 1,908, followed by her six-year rival Anky Van Grunsven of the Netherlands on Bonfire with 1,875, and Coby van Baalen of the Netherlands on Ferro with 1,873.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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