Tokyo Olympics 2020: US Team Dressage Silver Medalist Withdraws From Individual Grand Prix Freestyle After Issues With Horse

After a stunning performance last night, Adrienne Lyle withdraws from the Tokyo Olympics 2020. She already has a silver medal to her name, but the Washington native will not compete any further at the Games. This means Steffen Peters and Sabine Schut-Kery will be the only two US athletes competing in the Grand Prix Freestyle.

Adrienne Lyle withdraws from the Tokyo Olympics 2020

Alongside Peters and Schut-Kery, Adrienne Lyle registered a wonderful performance to take her team to the podium. She and Salvino scored a valuable 76.109% to kick of the US’ run in the team Grand Prix Special. While she laid the foundation, Steffen Peters and Sabine Schut-Kery built upon her performance and took the team to silver.

While Salvino may have helped her to gain that silver medal, he unfortunately led to her bowing out of the individual competition as well. Having scored a 74.876% to qualify for the finals, Salvino’s health has caused Lyle to pull him out of the competition. In equestrian, the welfare of the horse is often more important than the greed for gold.

According to a statement put out by US Equestrian, Salvino’s health is the primary matter of concern. They wrote, “This morning, Salvino did not feel quite like his usual self and last night?s historic team medal was an extraordinary accomplishment, and we are proud of the team?s incredible effort.”

Will this decision hamper the US contingent’s medal haul? Will Steffen Peters or Sabine Schut-Kery gain a medal to add to the US’ tally? As for Adrienne Lyle and Salvino, their Tokyo Olympics 2020 journey ends in silver.

Favorites to win the individual Grand Prix Freestyle

There are a bunch of names favored to take home gold at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 dressage individual Grand Prix Freestyle. First, Sabine Schut-Kery, the best performer from the US team, is their best hope of adding another medal to the tally. However, we can’t count out Steffen Peters, the oldest Olympic medalist for the US since 1952.

Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin made her own piece of history last night. By clinching bronze, she became the most decorated female British Olympian. She can add another mighty accolade to her name by winning gold and completing a historic three-peat. She won gold in London 2012 and Rio 2016, and can become one of the greatest of all time by winning gold in Tokyo.

Germany’s Isabell Werth is the most decorated equestrian Olympian of all time. With a win here, she extends her record two twelve Olympic medals in equestrian. However, her teammate Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl was the strongest performer at the team event. Will she upset her teammate, or will the veteran show her how it’s done?

Read more: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Congratulate Charlotte Dujardin for Becoming the Most Decorated British Female Olympian