There was no joy for Ireland's Daniel Coyle and Shane Sweetnam in the show jumping individual final, with the gold medal won by Germany's Christian Kukuk after a jump-off
Coyle, riding Legacy, produced a solid round of jumping until he knocked four obstacles on the run, and then decided to retire (watch below). Aftewards, the Derry rider revealed that lost his stirrup at the top of the arena.
Cork's Sweetnam, partnering James Kaan Cruz (watch above) incurred 12 faults in a time of 82.03 to finish 22nd overall.
After jumping clear rounds in Monday's qualification, there were high hopes that the Irish duo could repeat that form in the final, but only three of the 30 finalists produced clear rounds.
The jump-off involved Kukuk on Checker 47; Switzerland's Martin Fuchs on Leone Jei; and Maikel van der Vleuten of the Netherlands on Beauville Z.
On a shorter course, Kukuk delivered a clear round in a time of 38.34.
Van der Vleuten jumped next and had four faults as he clocked 39.12.
Guerdat and Dynamix De Belheme, the quickest in regulation, got in close and knocked the top bar of an obstacle close from home; his time of 38.38 ensured he got the silver medal ahead of Van der Vleuten.
But on a sweltering day at Chateau de Versailles, it was the Germans who were celebrating gold medal success.
Speaking after his round, Coyle said he was delighted with Legacy's performance throughout the Games.
He told RTÉ Sport: "She was jumping so well all week and I was busy being worried about her being tired and she came out today and fought better than ever.
"I lost my stirrup at the top of the arena and then I was too far off the triple bar and she had that down and when you have one down I guess me and the horse, it takes a bit of energy and motivation away. When she knocked another one I thought; 'she's given me so much already this week I’m happy enough with that.’
"I’m delighted with the way she’s performed and that I’ve been able to hold up to her standards, I’m sorry it didn’t pay off today. I'll go back with my head held high and we’ll win a medal at the next one."
Disappointment for Daniel Coyle after Legacy faded in the final stretch of the show jumping individual final but he says "I'll go back with my head held high and we'll win a medal at the next one"
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 6, 2024
📱 Report: https://t.co/XXF04zlMne#Paris2024 #olympics #olympicgames pic.twitter.com/ogow9eyxxg
Sweetnam said the course was "very difficult" and that the heat also made for tough conditions.
He said: "There's been a lot of jumping the last six days, four big rounds, so I think we ran out of gas a little bit but he was still trying very hard, he’s a great horse.
"Maybe if he had a little more energy I think we could have given it a better go, but he’s a great horse.
"You knew it was going to be a real test and there wouldn’t be so many clear, there was a few very close."
"In general, that’s what the Games are about - ups and downs. Yesterday was fantastic, we were knocking on the door for a team medal and then today it just didn’t happen, but it’s been a great experience," he added.
Shane Sweetnam felt the individual show jumping final course was "very difficult" and that James Kaan Cruz "ran out of gas a little bit" but he still enjoyed his Olympic experience.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 6, 2024
📱 Report: https://t.co/XXF04zlMne#Paris2024 #olympics #olympicgames pic.twitter.com/uIEeuq5T5t
Watch the 2024 Olympic Games with 14 hours of televised action on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player each day. Listen to extensive radio coverage on RTÉ Radio 1 and 2fm's Game On and follow each moment from Paris on RTÉ.ie, the RTÉ News app and all RTÉ digital platforms. Listen to the daily RTÉ Sport Olympics Podcast.
