“VERSAILLES, France: “Jung Wins Eventing; Aussie Underdog Shines”, German eventing rider Michael Jung secured his fourth Olympic gold medal on Monday, outpacing top contenders Christopher Burton of Australia and Laura Collett of Britain in the final showjumping event. Jung’s victory solidifies his position as one of the sport’s all-time greats.”
Jung, riding on his bay Hannover gelding Chipmunk, won the three-day competition combining dressage, cross-country and showjumping with a final score of 21.8 penalty points, ahead of Burton with 22.4 and Collett with 23.1.
Securing his third individual Olympics win after London 2012 and Rio 2016, Jung managed to follow up on an outstanding dressage score on Saturday with a flawless and perfectly timed cross-country ride and two solid jumping performances the two following days.
The Versailles medal was the first Jung has won with Chipmunk, a horse the Bavarian took over in 2019 from fellow German Olympian Julia Krajewski with the help of his financial backers.
Jung had said he would “coddle and pamper” his partner ahead of the jumping final with a good portion of carrots.
The silver medal was his first individual Olympic medal, after winning team bronze in Rio 2016.
