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Reversal of fortune

Dutch rider beats defending champ for dressage gold

Anky van Grunsven of the Netherlands rides the horse Bonfire during the individual dressage competition. AP

SYDNEY, Australia (CNNSI.com) -- Anky van Grunsven of the Netherlands, who lost to Isabell Werth in the Atlanta Games, beat the German to win the individual dressage gold medal Saturday.

Germany's Ulla Salzgeber won the bronze.

Van Grunsven rode Bonfire in an energetic freestyle test to improve on his silver medal of four years ago. Werth rode Gigolo for the silver.

Both have announced their competition veteran horses, both aged 17, will retire after the Olympics.

Van Grunsven and Bonfire overtook Werth and Gigolo for the lead in the Grand Prix special test on Friday.

On Saturday, Van Grunsven scored 86.05 percent for a combined score of 239.18 from the three days of competition. Gigolo's freestyle was not as fluid, and he earned 82.2 percent for a combined 234.19.

Salzgeber of Germany won bronze on Rusty with an 80.67 percent freestyle and a combined score of 230.57.

"Unbelievable," Van Grunsven said. "No one could be happier with a gold medal than I am."

The top 15 riders from the two previous Grand Prix tests rode in Saturday's freestyle.

Germany won the team dressage gold on Wednesday, followed by the Netherlands with silver and the United States with bronze.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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