Australia’s winning equestrian team in Atlanta, which included two gold medallists from the previous Games in Barcelona — Andrew Hoy and Gillian Rolton — was notable not only for its riding skill. It also set exemplary standards of raw courage. Wendy Schaeffer, at 21 Australia’s youngest equestrian gold medallist ever, rode with a broken leg — suffered in training two months before. She was in pain for most of the three-day event, but still finished on top of the overall table. (At previous Games this would have entitled her to a second gold medal). Gillian Rolton had two crushing falls in the cross-country section, suffering broken collarbone and broken ribs — but remounted to finish the course. Phillip Dutton finished second to Schaeffer on the points table and Hoy was fourth — enabling Australia to win by 57 points from the US.

Competition
Olympic Games, Atlanta

Team Members: Phillip Dutton, Andrew Hoy, Gillian Rolton, Wendy Schaeffer