PrintBut Gina Miles, of the United States, breaks their hold for the individual silver medal.
Looking for even more in-depth coverage? Click here to visit our online coverage section of the 2008 Olympic Eventing competition, complete with daily news reports from Managing Editor Beth Rasin, photo galleries by Assistant Editor Molly Sorge and blogs from Olympic riders and grooms.
The German eventers waited four long years to bring back the gold that they’d earned, then lost, in a long, drawn-out controversy at the 2004 Olympic Games. That gold medal was finally determined days after the event in a courtroom, in favor of the French.
But in Hong Kong, China, Aug. 9-12, a different attitude prevailed as a joyful German team—Hinrich Romeike, Ingrid Klimke, Frank Ostholt, Andreas Dibowski and Peter Thomsen—simply outrode everyone else on their way to undisputed team and individual gold medals. The Australians were second and British third as the U.S. team dropped to seventh.
The double-gold medalist, Romeike, who was a member of that 2004 German team, said that controversy—when Bettina Hoy went through the show jumping start timers twice and cost them team gold—is behind them. “Everyone in our sport is friends again,” he said.
Although he was elated with his wins, Romeike was exceedingly modest. “The team gold for us is very precious, but I was talking with our friends from Australia, and I said if today five of five scores counted, the Australians would have won,” he said. “A medal is a good thing; it means you’ve done well, and you’re happy and go party with your friends. Life’s a rollercoaster, and you just have to ride it.”
Romeike, 45, a full-time dental surgeon in Nübbel, works from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., then rides after work. He said his patients and staff watched the action live on a big screen at home. Other than Marius, he has just a few horses, including a 3-year-old full brother to his striking gray.
Romeike heard about Marius while on a skiing trip in Austria with his friend Hans-Werner Ritters, who bred Marius. He asked to ride the gray Holsteiner by Condrieu for his birthday, and one year later, when Marius was 5, Romeike bought him. “I really liked his silhouette, his outlines,” said Romeike.
Throughout the week, long before he’d won two gold medals, Romeike’s adoration for his 14-year-old, gorgeous gray was obvious. They’ve now competed in two Olympic Games, a World Championship and three European Championships together.
“I would be nothing without this horse,” said Romeike, whose gelding has a calm intelligence about him and a beautiful jumping style. “I always have the impression that his last [cross-country] round is his best round, and it was again his best today. Every time he does it. I don’t know how, but he does—thank you Marius. I’m very thankful to possess such a wonderfully magic horse.”
Looking for even more in-depth coverage? Click here to visit our online coverage section of the 2008 Olympic Eventing competition, complete with daily news reports from Managing Editor Beth Rasin, photo galleries by Assistant Editor Molly Sorge and blogs from Olympic riders and grooms.
The German eventers waited four long years to bring back the gold that they’d earned, then lost, in a long, drawn-out controversy at the 2004 Olympic Games. That gold medal was finally determined days after the event in a courtroom, in favor of the French.
But in Hong Kong, China, Aug. 9-12, a different attitude prevailed as a joyful German team—Hinrich Romeike, Ingrid Klimke, Frank Ostholt, Andreas Dibowski and Peter Thomsen—simply outrode everyone else on their way to undisputed team and individual gold medals. The Australians were second and British third as the U.S. team dropped to seventh.The double-gold medalist, Romeike, who was a member of that 2004 German team, said that controversy—when Bettina Hoy went through the show jumping start timers twice and cost them team gold—is behind them. “Everyone in our sport is friends again,” he said.
Although he was elated with his wins, Romeike was exceedingly modest. “The team gold for us is very precious, but I was talking with our friends from Australia, and I said if today five of five scores counted, the Australians would have won,” he said. “A medal is a good thing; it means you’ve done well, and you’re happy and go party with your friends. Life’s a rollercoaster, and you just have to ride it.”
Romeike, 45, a full-time dental surgeon in Nübbel, works from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., then rides after work. He said his patients and staff watched the action live on a big screen at home. Other than Marius, he has just a few horses, including a 3-year-old full brother to his striking gray.
Romeike heard about Marius while on a skiing trip in Austria with his friend Hans-Werner Ritters, who bred Marius. He asked to ride the gray Holsteiner by Condrieu for his birthday, and one year later, when Marius was 5, Romeike bought him. “I really liked his silhouette, his outlines,” said Romeike.
Throughout the week, long before he’d won two gold medals, Romeike’s adoration for his 14-year-old, gorgeous gray was obvious. They’ve now competed in two Olympic Games, a World Championship and three European Championships together.
“I would be nothing without this horse,” said Romeike, whose gelding has a calm intelligence about him and a beautiful jumping style. “I always have the impression that his last [cross-country] round is his best round, and it was again his best today. Every time he does it. I don’t know how, but he does—thank you Marius. I’m very thankful to possess such a wonderfully magic horse.”
