Paris 2024: Fry leads brilliant British results with Olympic Bronze

On the final dressage day of Paris 2024, Lottie Fry secured Olympic bronze in the Grand Prix Freestyle, as all three British riders showed their best form to place inside the top eight.

 A packed stadium of spectators were treated to a medal match fit for a king in front of the Palace of Versailles, as 18 world class combinations stepped forward to contest the Grand Prix Freestyle. The line-up was an all-European affair, with eight nations represented following qualification from the mid-week Grand Prix competition.  

Bronze for Fry  

Lottie Fry made history becoming the third British rider to hold an individual Olympic medal, securing bronze with her 2022 world champion partner Glamourdale. 

Drawn in the final group, Lottie and the Van Olst’s 11-year-old flagship stallion held their nerve as the crowd held their breath. Using the ‘Best of British’ programme that delivered her 2022 World Championship gold medal and European silver last summer, Lottie and ‘Glammy’ hit every mark of the powerful, emotive freestyle that combines Queen and the with the British and French National anthems – a new element for 2024 to capture the Parisian theme. Under the expert guidance of his petite rider, Glamourdale showed all of the moves that have earned him an outstanding reputation; it’s difficult to draw out highlights from a test that was rock solid start to finish, with precision in the collected movements balanced alongside powerful extended paces and flying changes that are always impressive.  

Raphael Saleh (FRA – C), Michael Osinski (USA – K), Mariette Sanders (NED – E), Henning Lehrmann (GER – H), Isobel Wessels (GBR – H), Susanne Baarup (DEN – B) and Magnus Ringmark (SWE – F) rewarded Lottie with 88.971%, a score which slotted into silver medal position on the provisional leaderboard behind Germany’s Isabell Werth and her delightful dancing mare Wendy. A tense wait ensued as three combinations concluded the competition; Holland’s Dinja van Liere threw down a great test with Hermes to score 88.432% before the great Jessica von Bredow-Werndl lit up the arena with her magical mare Dalera BB. Jessica and Dalera claimed the lead with 90.093%, moving Lottie down a step of the podium to provisional bronze. With one combination remaining between Lottie and an Olympic medal, six minutes felt like six hours as Grand Prix Special winner Cathrine Dufour and the British-owned Freestyle took to the arena; their test had plenty of highlights and the score was an impressive 88.093%, enough to claim fifth place but not a position on the podium.  

“That was an amazing feeling in there,” a delighted Lottie said after her test, “the music, the crowd, the whole arena, it was so incredible to ride. Glamourdale always rises to the occasion, he delivered his best work today so I couldn’t be more pleased to be honest. It’s been a pretty long week for us here and he really gave his all, I’m very proud.” 

After her moment on the individual medal podium, an over-joyed Lottie commented on the achievement: “I’m speechless, it’s absolutely amazing, I one hundred percent knew he was capable of it, but to pull it off in there today and get the bronze is just incredible. The support from the crowd was amazing and the prize-giving was insane – that feeling of going round with Jessica and Isabell, two idols and huge inspirations in our sport, was just incredible. 

“I didn’t watch any of the tests after mine – I knew they were really good and I didn’t want to disappoint myself when I was so happy with my ride. We were on our way back to the stables and I thought, by chance, that I’d better check the scores before we started packing up, then there was suddenly a lot of screaming going on when we realised we had the bronze!  

“To get the team bronze yesterday was an amazing feeling and I think it was so well-deserved for the three of us, then to get an individual medal is crazy. I think you always dream of it, for sure, and I always want and strive to be better. I know Glamourdale is one of the best horses in the world, so I knew it was possible, and I do like to put a bit of pressure on myself, but when you’re in there, all you’re thinking about is that moment. When it becomes reality, it’s insane. 

“This is really lifted spirits and we’ve really come together as a team. Our support team has been incredible at giving us the confidence to go out there and get the medals. I think this is just what we, as the British needed. I’m very happy to be going home with a bronze.” 

Top eight placings for brilliant Brits 

Seven-time Olympian Carl Hester placed fifth with Fiona Bigwood’s stallion Fame, just one placing away from his best Olympic freestyle finish. Carl’s outstanding record of delivering for Great Britain time after time is reflected in his Games Freestyle results, for the past four Olympics, Carl has placed inside the top eight on every occasion, with different horses every time.  

In Paris, Carl’s test left barely a dry eye in the house, it was poetry in motion. Fame looked a picture and in the glorious sunshine, simply put, everything went right. Carl had alluded to the freestyle theme earlier in the week, describing it as ‘music of his life’ and a beautiful artistic arrangement certainly lived up to expectations. The combination rode an interesting floorplan, executing the movements in high quality to achieve a technical score of 77.893%. An artistic mark of 92.429% brought the total score to 85.161% - just a fraction beneath Carl’s lifetime personal best freestyle score of 85.461%, earned with Fame at the European Championships in Riesenbeck last year.  

“I’m really happy, it’s possible the best freestyle I’ve ever done. It had a high degree of difficulty, I didn’t make a mistake and I love this music. I had input and I wanted something that means something to me, it’s fun and I was riding to the music for a change instead of just riding lines.”  

“Fame was the best he’s been all week today, I’m so proud of how he performed. It was a wonderful ride,” “In front of a crowd like this you’re not just riding for yourself you’re here to entertain them – you need a good performance and you want them on your side. You want people to enjoy it and I think they did. Why should I not retire after a test like that!” 

Team newcomer Becky Moody earned a direct qualification ticket to the Freestyle finale and completed the dream debut by riding herself into the top eight. With her own and Jo Cooper’s talented ten-year-old Jagerbomb, Becky brought her Tom Jones freestyle to the arena, bringing joy to all who had the privilege to watch. Becky’s exemplary way of going has been applauded by the judges and the public all week, and was again a highlight in her performance. The judges rewarded a total of 84.357%, a new personal best score in this test, and truly a score well-deserved. Their eventual placing would be eighth, a remarkable achievement for a combination riding in their first senior championship.  

“It’s good fun music and there’s a good story behind it, my really good friend and groom Kim Masson told me about three years ago I should use Tom Jones...I was like ‘absolutely not’ and she persisted and persisted – I caved in and as soon as I got it back I thought it was actually really cool. It’s fun to ride to, the horse likes it, the crowd like it and it’s stuck!” 

Becky reflected on her first major championship to conclude, “It’s really tricky to find the balance of keeping the horses fresh, it’s been the most difficult thing I’ve found – getting the horses to peak when we need them to peak. But it’s what we work for, it’s been quite the experience. The GB support crew is second to none and the funding we get from the National Lottery is a big part of why we’re here too.” 

It’s straight back to business for the Yorkshire-rider who heads home to a packed diary of teaching as normal from Tuesday, “we’ll graft away and keep getting better,” she concluded, capturing the grit and determination which has led to her Olympic debut and success.  

Congratulations go to all three riders, horses, grooms Richard Hauwaerts, Lucy Scudamore and Kim Masson, each owner behind the team horses – without whom none of this would be possible – and to the wider support teams, including the British Equestrian staff.  

Results  

1. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB, 90.093% (GER)
2. Isabell Werth and Wendy, 89.614% (GER)
3. Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale, 88.971% (GBR)
4. Dinja van Liere and Hermes, 88.432% (NED)
5. Cathrine Laurdrup-Dufour and Freestyle, 88.093% (DEN)
6. Carl Hester and Fame, 85.161% (GBR)
7. Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Vayron, 84.850% (DEN)
8. Becky Moody and Jagerbomb, 84.357% (GBR) 

FULL RESULTS