In a spectacular turn of events, Team GB has climbed to third place in the medal standings after clinching gold in equestrian on Friday. The British team finished strong, with a solid final performance ensuring they stayed ahead of rivals USA and France, and only racked up two penalty points throughout the competition.
It’s a story of déjà vu for Harry Charles, who followed in his father Peter Charles’ footsteps by winning Olympic team jumping gold.
Twelve years after Peter secured gold at London 2012, Harry has now achieved the same feat at Paris 2024.
This makes them the first British father and son duo to both be Olympic champions since rower Dickie Burnell followed in his father Charles’s footsteps in 1948.
Adding a heartwarming twist, Harry stood on the podium at Chateau de Versailles with Ben Maher and Scott Brash, his father’s teammates from 2012.
“My inner, younger self is freaking out a bit!” Harry Charles exclaimed with a grin. “It’s going to take a few weeks to sink in.”
From the Stands to the Podium
As a 13-year-old, Harry watched his father and his team win gold at Greenwich Park, an experience that sparked his own passion for riding.
“Being at Greenwich Park was definitely the most pivotal moment of my youth,” said the 25-year-old, whose father was in the stands cheering him on this time around.
Harry shared that his dad initially wanted him to pursue golf.
“I was playing a lot of golf and riding a few ponies. But that moment at Greenwich Park made me realize I was much better at riding horses than swinging golf clubs.”
He also admired Ben Maher and Scott Brash as heroes since he began riding.
“To be on the podium with them now, it’s pretty cool. My dad told me, ‘Enjoy every minute of that ceremony, it will probably be the best moment of your life’—and it truly is.”
A Surreal Moment for the Veteran Riders
For Ben Maher and Scott Brash, winning gold alongside the teenager who once cheered them on was a surreal experience. “He looked exactly the same then as he does now,” Maher chuckled. “We call him ‘Bieber’ in the team!”
Yesterday, Harry, nicknamed ‘Bieber,’ was in top form on his horse Romeo 88, bouncing back from a tough Olympic debut in Tokyo.
The Team GB trio performed flawlessly at Chateau de Versailles, the opulent former palace of King Louis XIV, located 12 miles west of Paris.
Maher, riding Dallas Vegas Batilly, set the stage with just a single time penalty, propelling Britain to the top of the leaderboard.
Charles, despite recently recovering from a broken arm, delivered a flawless round on Romeo 88, calling it the round of his life. Brash, the final rider, kept his cool and managed to secure gold with a time penalty of only one, ensuring Britain’s victory over the USA and France.
A Milestone Achievement
Scott Brash described the moment as one of the most intense of his career, adding, “You have to block everything out.
The lads put me in an incredible position, and Jefferson was amazing, handling the atmosphere perfectly.”
For Ben Maher, this gold marks his third Olympic win, equaling the record of Britain’s most successful Olympic equestrian riders, alongside Richard Meade and Charlotte Dujardin. “I didn’t know that stat but it’s incredible,” Maher remarked. “Everyone did an amazing job today.”
This victory is also a significant boost for Team GB, coming just days after a controversy involving the sport back home. “These horses are looked after better than most people,” Brash emphasized.
“We’ve brought home a gold medal and done our country proud. We want equestrian to stay in the Olympic Games, and I think we’ve showcased top sport today.”
So, amid all the drama and triumph, it’s been a showcase of elite sport and a fairytale family story.
TDPel Media
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