Michael Jung and Chipmunk FRH. Photo by Tilly Berendt.After a tough first session of showjumping nearly three-quarters of the class had at least one rail in the team final and individual qualifier there was a palpable feeling of tension in the air as we approached the individual final at Versailles.Just 25 riders would come forward to battle for the podium, carrying whatever penalties theyd picked up in that first round; very few headed into the fight with a clean slate. The leaderboard had seen plenty of changes already: Michael Jung retained his lead with Chipmunk FRH(Contendro I Havanna, by Heraldik), though with a fence to his name; dressage leaders Laura Collett and London 52(Landos Vernante, by Quinar), too, had lowered a pole en route to finalising the British teams gold medal. Australias Chris Burton had, to no ones surprise, managed a clear though even the eventer-turned-showjumper, whos made a return to his original sport this year solely to focus on Paris, picked up a time penalty with Shadow Man(Fidjy of Colors Favorite van de Keezerswinning, by WInningmood van de Arenberg).That meant that there was a single rail covering the top four, which was rounded out by first-round clear-rounders Tom McEwen and JL Dublin(Diarado Zarinna, by Canto), and the rest of the class werent far behind, either and so everybody knew that if the second round was built as big, as technical, and as relentless as the first, hearts could be broken, or seemingly unlikely dreams could be achieved.Michael Jung and Chipmunk FRH. Photo by Tilly Berendt.It must be an odd sort of feeling, having that in mind as you ride down the long chute into a packed stadium: you know that in a matter of less than two minutes, youll either feel as though youre on top of the world or youll feel as though its stopped turning. Your fate is in your hands, your horses hooves, and the curious whims of the jump cups, which were set around the course in various levels of shallowness and cruelly fickle in throughout so much of the day. You can be so, so close to something youve wanted your whole life, and also so, so close to watching it slip through your fingers.But then, something unexpected happened. A clear round, and then another, and then another and then more, and more, and more as the crowd roared them home. Perhaps it was the cumulative effect of having had what was effectively a warm-up round; perhaps it came down to the caliber of horses and riders in this upper echelon of the class. Or, perhaps, this second course was just built to be friendlier and more accommodating, anticipating equine tiredness after three intensive days of competition and, perhaps, the fact that every horse came out looking so fresh and well and ready to jump is a testament to just how well-prepared theyd been for this competition. Thats a gold medal for the sport, after a 2024 season thats been peppered with so many losses.Kazuma Tomoto and Vince de la Vigne. Photo by Tilly Berendt.But its not just the sport that won today. At the close of the competition, 68% of the final 25 managed a clear round, and 60% of the field added no penalties at all including much of the top ten. Switzerlands Felix Vogg and Dao de lOcean(Kannan Heddy, by Heraldik) tipped a rail, dropping them a couple of places down from their earlier sixth place; Japans Yoshiaki Oiwa and MGH Grafton Street(O.B.O.S. Quality 004 unknown), fresh off winning that extraordinary bronze medal just an hour or so earlier, did too, which similarly toppled them a couple of places down from fifth. His teammate, Kazuma Tomoto, though, jumped a faultless round with Vinci de la Vigne(Esterel des Bois SF Korrigane de Vigne SF, by Duc du Hutrel), despite a roaring heckler in the crowd who waited until he was approaching the first fence to start bellowing something he repeated midway through Yoshis round.That allowed Kazu to close out his competition on a score of 27.4, which meant that he was less than a rail off of the podium. Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, whod jumped clear in the team final, somehow looked even better in their second round, and retained their score of 25.8 and then the pressure was truly on for the prospective podium.Provisionally third-placed Laura Collett and London 52 had had a rail down in round one, despite ranking as one of the best showjumping pairs in the class; their uncharacteristic two total rails at the Tokyo Olympics, which cost them an individual medal then, cant have been far from the riders mind. But then she, too, got the job done, adding neither rails nor time to put a fine point on the end of a week thats seen her set a new Olympic dressage record and take her second Olympic team gold.Chris Burton and Shadow Man. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Chris Burton, in silver medal position, had already had one clear with Shadow Man but if they were to have one this time, theyd slip straight off the podium. Could they keep their heads and rely on a partnership that only dates back a matter of months?They could. They, too, added nothing to their cumulative score of 22.4, and so it was that two-phase leaders Michael Jung and Chipmunk came into the Versailles stadium, which crackled and thrummed with thousands of racing heartbeats, with just a single time penalty in hand.Theyd been here before. At the 2022 World Championships in Pratoni, they led coming into the final phase; they did the same again at Luhmhlens CCI4*-S a few weeks ago. On both occasions, when it really counted, they had rails and lost their grasp on glory, despite ordinarily being incredibly consistent showjumpers.And then theres their championship form as a partnership: other than a Europeans individual silver back at the start of their partnership in 2019, their campaigns on the world stage have been plagued with bad luck, including a fall at last years European Championships and, so memorably and so contentiously, a late-falling MIM corner at the Tokyo Olympics, both of which cost them gold medals.But this, perhaps, could be described as the redemption Olympics.Janneke Boonzaaijer and ASCI Champ de Tailleur. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Weve seen Japan rally back after a demoralising Tokyo as a team and an initial lack of qualification for Paris, which affected their funding and support and now theyre Olympic medallists. Weve seen the likes of Lara de Liedekerke-Meier, who had to withdraw following dressage in her Olympic debut three years ago, heralding the start of a couple of seasons of relentless disappointment, lead the Belgian team to a remarkable podium finish and flirt with the outskirts of the top ten herself. Weve seen the Netherlands Janneke Boonzaaijer, who was eliminated at Tokyo for jumping the wrong fence in a combination, return to become the first Dutch rider ever to make the time at an Olympics and then she finished on her dressage score and took ninth place, to boot.Stephane Landois and Chaman Dumontceau. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Weve seen two horses formerly ridden by women whose lives were tragically cut short finish in the top fifteen in honour of their much-missed friends, in Boyd Martin and Fedarman B (10th) and Frances Stephane Landois and Chaman Dumontceau (14th).And so it was only right that Michis turn for redemption had to come around, too which is exactly what it did. He and Chipmunk put their earlier rail behind them and jumped an easy clear, securing the individual gold and making Michi, who was Olympic champion at London in 2012 and at Rio in 2016, the first-ever three-time individual eventing gold medallist. Michael Jung, it appears, is back.But did he ever dare to dream that this might happen again?Michael Jung and Chipmunk FRH. Photo by Tilly Berendt.I tried to stay really focused and concentrate through the whole week, he says. Im not thinking to the ceremony! So I try also to say to myself, its just a normal show. Its not always easy with so many spectators and on such an important show.But, he continues, I think its quite important that the horses feel that nothing is really special, and to have a really nice process. It worked really well; in the end, I had a not-perfect round from myself, but he helped me, especially in the last combination.Once he crossed the finish line and heard the roar of support from the crowd, he admits that he had to see it for himself to believe it. Then, in a rare moment of vulnerability, he began to weep.I needed to look at the board a few times [to see] its if its really true and to realize it all, he grins. I think I need to I need a moment to realize all of it, and what it means but its a very special moment for me.Throughout the week, Michi has been waxing lyrical about how, even with his extraordinary experience, being in the thick of an Olympics still feels brand new every time. But how do his three experiences of winning the biggest prize of them all compare to one another?Michael Jung and Chipmunk FRH. Photo by Tilly Berendt.I think, for every athlete, its a dream to go to the Olympic Games, and of course I can remember [the thrill of winning], but today, its just this one this one is amazing, he says. Its unbelievable. Another dream come true and Im so happy and thankful for Chipmunk. Hes an amazing horse, and its so fantastic to have him. To have this success again, theres no words for that. Its unbelievable.Michis win means that the individual Olympic title stays in Germany in 2021, it was won by teammate Julia Krajewski, who produced the gelding to the top levels before losing the ride which is some consolation for a tough week for the team, which saw them finish fourteenth of sixteen teams.[This victory] is very important, of course, for Germany, he says. It helps us a lot.Also helped by the competition here, he continues, is the sport.I think, for the whole eventing sport, we had a fantastic sport this week. Out there in the park, that was amazing yesterday, and the dressage and the jumping today. It was fantastic for the eventing sport and the whole world, he grins.Chris Burton and Shadow Man. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Chris Burton was once known as the fastest man in eventing, and then, suddenly, he wasnt in eventing at all anymore, having walked away from the sport to pursue showjumping instead. But at the tail end of last year, he began thinking seriously about a return, just for a little while, and just to try to make it to Paris something he was also aiming for in the jumping ring. He didnt make it onto the Australian team in that sport, though he got close but from the moment he first climbed aboard Ben Hobdays five-star partner Shadow Man, who he took ownership of on a limited-length contract, he knew he was onto something special.Now, the pair are the individual Olympic silver medallists on only their second-ever long-format outing as a partnership and this marks a return to the sport for Fidgy, too, whose last event before this season was Badminton in 2022. And so to earn a 22 in the first phase, and then add just 0.4 for tipping the clock in todays first round, isnt a shabby outing at all, really.I was delighted with [Shadow Man], says Burto. But it was annoying when I came out [from my first round], I didnt know Id had that time fault, so that sort of ruined things for me a little bit. But isnt he a lovely animal? And what a lucky person I am to be here in Paris, having so much fun here. The atmosphere at the Olympics is indescribable, isnt it? You wish you could bottle it.Burto credited his long-time owners with playing a crucial part in his return, as well as his family, and Ben Hobday, who is expected to take the horse back at the close of his campaign with Burto.Chris Burton and Shadow Man. Photo by Tilly Berendt.I just cant thank Kate and Geoffrey Guy at Chedington Equestrian enough, because without them I wouldnt be here and my wife who, eventually said yes [to my plan]. Without her, I wouldnt be here either and Ben Hobday, thanks for the horse, mate! he grins. Hes a ripper. The horse is unbelievable hes big and hes got a lot of scope. What an amazing animal to go in and also try hard to be really careful like he is. A real treat.The electric atmosphere in the ring turned out to be a benefit to the sensitive gelding.We all saw him get a bit lit up in the dressage with the crowd, whereas today he did a little bit, but then he just put his nervous energy to good use and went higher so that was fun, says Burto, who tried twice, he explains, to buy the horse from Ben, so sure was he of his potential to be a medallist on the world stage.Chris Burton and Shadow Man. Photo by Tilly Berendt.It was all this horse. I thought, what sort of horse you could get on the team with? I suspected that he was a very good horse, but I was so delighted to get to know him and learn that hes more than a very good horse. Hes just such a delight. Someone asked the other day, How long did it take you to get to know him? I just picked up the reins and that was it. Off we went.Though its easy to imagine that this extraordinary return to the sport, and to his form of old, might tempt him to stick around for a while longer, Burto, who has long been based in the UK, has other plans.Actually, my wife and I are going back to Australia, he says. Weve been able to go back there and build up a nice little yard. But maybe one day Michi or Laura will ring me up and say, Ive got a nice horse for you and then I might want to come back!Laura Collett and London 52. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Like Michi, Laura Collett has been on the hunt for championship redemption, and today, she got it. Shes had an enviable run of form with London 52 they won Paus CCI5* on the horses debut, and have won Luhmhlen and Badminton on their two starts at the level since.But at championships, they, too, have been plagued by bad luck. She fell while in medal contention at the geldings first European Championships in 2019; in 2021 at Tokyo, they took a team gold but lost an individual medal due to a hugely uncharacteristic two rails. At the 2022 World Championships in Pratoni, they had their first run-out in three years; at last years European Championships they once again took team gold, but picked up 15 penalties for a missed flag in the process.Today, though, they put it right, taking individual bronze as well as another team gold for their collection.Things havent really going to plan really at any of my senior appearances, and Tokyo I really thought I should have would have won an individual medal, but things didnt go as planned, she says. Luckily, Ive learned from my mistakes. We had a great plan coming here that we werent going to make the same mistakes we made in Tokyo, and the plan paid off. Im just so lucky to have been given a second chance not many people get to go to one Games and try and win a medal. I was lucky enough to go to two, so Im just very relieved.Laura Collett and London 52. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Though there must be some small sting to not taking the individual title, which she looked in position to do as first-phase leader on a record-setting 17.5, Lauras purely in celebration mode.The best man won Michael is the big master. Hes raised the sport to 10 different levels and hes missed out on so many championships on that horse, and I wanted him to win just as much as I wanted myself to win, she says. I had an amazing time in Tokyo. but no one was there sharing it with me, and now my best friends are here (and) my mum, so its going to be a big party tonight and plenty of parties when we get home, too.Honestly, she continues, I cant really believe it. That horse is phenomenal, and I owe everything to him.Tom McEwen and JL Dublin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Lauras teammate, Tom McEwen, took fourth place with the former Nicola Wilson ride JL Dublin, narrowly missing out on adding another individual medal to the silver he won with Toledo de Kerser in Tokyo, while Japans Kazuma Tomoto and his Tokyo fourth-place finisher Vinci de la Vigne closed the deal on fifth place by finishing on their dressage score of 27.4.Tim Price and Falco. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Tim Price put a turbulent week for the Kiwis they finished eighth, ultimately, of sixteen teams behind him to jump a duo of clears today and take sixth with his World Championships double-bronze medallist, Falco, while Japan made a second feature in the top ten, thanks to a one-rail round for Yoshiaki Oiwa and Pippa Funnells 2019 Burghley winner, MGH Grafton Street, who finished seventh.Felix Vogg and Dao de LOcean. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Eighth went the way of Felix Vogg, who took a rail in each round with Dao de lOcean while helming the upward-rising Swiss team, who finished fifth after starting the day in bronze medal position a bitter disappointment, no doubt, but still an incredible long-term trajectory for the nation is it continues its climb from being a developing nation to one that can hold its own in the brightest of company.Ninth place went to Janneke Boonzaaijer and ACSI Champs de Tailleur(Quidam de Revel Vera, by Oberon du Moulin), who made history for the Netherlands with their excellent starting and finishing score of 31.9. Well be bringing you a full story about Janneke, and the Dutch effort, in the aftermath of the Games.Yoshiaki Oiwa and MGH Grafton Street. Photo by Tilly Berendt.The U.S. rounded out the top ten thanks to a superb duo of clears from Boyd Martin and the Annie Goodwin Syndicates Fedarman B(Eurocommerce Washington Paulien B, by Fedor), and further into the top twenty-five, there was a spate of results that bodes extremely well for nations on the rise (more on the U.S. below).Sweden, who finished sixth as a team earlier today and would have been bronze medallists but for a flag penalty, took twelfth place, thanks to Frida Andersen and Box Leo(Jaguar Mail Box Qutie, by Quite Easy), who finished on their dressage score of 33.3, and 24thby way of Louise Romeike and the expressive Caspian 15(L.B. Crumble O-Heraldika, by Heraldik), who tipped a rail in the first round but jumped clear in the second.Frida Andersen and Box Leo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Its incredibly promising and hugely heartening for Sweden, a nation that is, perhaps, developmentally a step or two behind the likes of Switzerland, whose clear upward trajectory stretches back over the last Olympic cycle, and Belgium, whose own upward trajectory has happened over just the last two years, but has been so undeniable. They, too, very nearly had a grasp on bronze today, but a rail apiece in the first round saw them settle for fourth in their first team since London 2012.Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Origi. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Two of their own, though, were able to pin down top twenty finishes individually. The best of them was Lara de Liedekerke-Meier, still riding the wave of an ongoing high that has seen her turn her remarkable work ethic into undeniable results for the last year. She came to Paris off the back of becoming Belgiums first-ever five-star winner in June; now, shes a thirteenth-place finisher individually with ten-year-old Origi(Indoctro Espada Wonderland, by Darco), while stalwart Karin Donckers took 16thwith Leipheimer vant Verahof(Vigo d Arsouilles STX Southern Queen xx, by South Gale xx) in her seventh Olympics.The North American UpdateBoyd Martin and Fedarman B. Photo by Tilly Berendt.It certainly wasnt the weekend the U.S. was aiming for, finishing in seventh place as a team with a score of 133.7. It would have been the goal to build on the countrys silver medal finish in Pratoni in 2022, but a series of small errors would keep the team from competing heavily.For his part, chef dequipe Bobby Costello remains positive. I hope it doesnt sound like Im being overly Pollyanna, but I really truly believe that there were more positives this weekend, and there are still signs that we are here competing with the rest of the world.The Olympic format, with its lack of dropped score (the only competition that currently runs with this structure), is challenging as its difficult to practice for. Bobby acknowledges this. I dont think we can be obsessed about it for every competition, but we really do have to think about the things that we can definitely pinpoint and concentrate on and improve, that will make us more successful in a competition like this. Im heartened when I look at the quality of the riders that we have here. They all have a very deep bench of horses coming along. When Im looking to the future, I get a little bit worried about the deep bench of athletes, honestly, so that will be one of the things that I really concentrate on. Theres still a little bit of that gap between the developing and the Elite. We can really knuckle down and look into the next four years and map a blueprint of what its going to take, every day, every week, every month, every year to make sure that the improvements keep going.Boyd Martin and Fedarman B. Photo by Tilly Berendt.To be sure, several cycles ago, we would have been over the moon with this performance. When the result is staring you in the face, its easy to see what could have been, but it is key to look at the body of work for the U.S., which has its own unique set of challenges in terms of ability to compete on the world stage.Its heartbreaking to be honest Ive felt like Ive been so close, so many times, says Boyd Martin, who was the highest placed of the U.S. in 10th place with Fedarman B on a final score of 32.1. This is my fourth Olympics; my career is probably in the second half now. At the beginning of our week, we felt doomed a bit after the kerfuffle with Wills horse, and I thought everyone tried hard. This is a tough sport. Its a game of inches; its sort of a bit deflating. You have all these dreams of wearing a medal, and its not gonna happen this weekend.Liz Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Obviously its not the [team] result we wanted, says Liz Halliday, who finished 19th individually in her Olympic debut with The Nutcracker Syndicates Nutcracker (Tolan R Ballyshan Cleopatra, by Cobra) on a score of 40.0. I got drafted in so late, it was kind of crazy but I think for all of us it was still a wonderful experience to be here. Were very grateful, very lucky, to be in this position. I think its just made us hungrier for the future. I think we have very good horses in the U.S. we have three very good horses here. Now we just have to polish up a few more things, because I think were in a place now where we have the horsepower we have the riders, and I think it will come.Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Caroline Pamukcu has been vocal about her belief in the U.S. system, through which she has come up the ranks from her Young Rider days to, now, this Olympic debut with Sherrie Martin and Mollie Hoffs HSH Blake(Tolan R Doughiska Lass, by Kannan), but its a bittersweet feeling to complete with a result she knows she could have and should have bested. Ones own worst critic is too often the self.You know, its unbelievable what my Federation has done for me, and Im so proud to represent my country, but just keep trusting in the process they have planned out for me, and keep working and work even harder than ever, she said. Every year I have horses to plan, how to get them to peak, and it just keeps giving us more and more practice till the next Olympics.With Los Angeles hosting the 2028 Olympics and presuming eventing is eventually approved, as it has not been confirmed as of yet the U.S. will automatically secure a berth without needing to qualify a team in another way. The Aachen World Championships in 2026 also loom large, and this next cycle gives the U.S. an opportunity to focus, without the added pressure of Olympic qualification, on building and improving.We just have to stay focused and positive, Bobby said. But not be patting on ourselves on the back for being seventh. We can be better. We need to be better than that, but we also cant get discouraged either.Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS. Photo by Tilly Berendt.Canada finished their weekend in 11th place on a score of 174.00, with Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS the highest-placed with a clear round in the team final. Its very much still a time of development for Canada, who has really come on with more talent to pull from for championship experience and deftly coached by chef dequipe Rebecca Howard this weekend.Over and Out (for now, at least)Laura Collett and London 52. Photo by Tilly Berendt.With that, we wrap up an intense weekend of Olympic coverage, and what an honor its been to bring these stories to you each and every day. We arent done yet! Well have more content coming your way in the coming days and weeks, including some additional features on stories we couldnt quite get to during competition, Reporters Notebooks from Tilly Berendt and Sally Spickard, analysis and insight into the inexorable rise of developing nations, and much, much more.The weekend was truly incomparable in many ways, not the least of which was witnessing the sheer amount of fan engagement with and support of our sport.Well leave you with some photos taken by Lisa Barry (whos been #supergroom for Jessie Phoenix this week) and Robert Kellerhouse, who will be busy with his team and partners preparing Galway Downs to host the LA 2028 equestrian sports. Its a true, global eventing nation that were proud to be a part of, and we feel fortunate to have experienced what has been a once-in-a-lifetime weekend of sport. Thank you for coming on the ride with us.Go Eventing.Sally Spickard contributed to this report.#Paris2024:[Website] [Equestrian Schedule, Timing, Scoring] [Peacock for U.S. Viewers][How to Watch Guide] [Ticket Resale Market] [Spectator Guides] [ENs Coverage]