Van Grunsven three-peats dressage gold

HONG KONG (AP) Anky van Grunsven of the Netherlands won the individual dressage gold medal Tuesday for the third Olympics in a row.

Van Grunsven scored 82.4 percent in the Grand Prix freestyle riding Salinero, her gold medal partner from 2004 in Athens. That score, combined with her total in the Grand Prix Special test on Saturday, gave her a final average of 78.68 percent.

Van Grunsven also won individual gold in 2000.

"Three in a row," said van Grunsven. "I never believed this could happen. I am shocked. I don't think I will ever come back again. I am happy with the three gold medals I have won."

Isabell Werth of Germany led on Saturday, but her freestyle score of 78.1 percent on Satchmo fell short, earning a final average of 76.65 percent for silver.

Satchmo suddenly backed up during a piaffe (trot in place) movement, as he had in Saturday night's test, but this time the error was more costly for Werth.

"He didn't forget it today," said Werth. "I can't explain why it happened. I just couldn't give him confidence. It's a shame because it was the best freestyle he's done."

Germany's Heike Kemmer earned 75.95 percent for her freestyle on Bonaparte, winning bronze with a final average of 74.455.

"He was really working for me," said Kemmer. "I'm really proud of my horse."

American rider Steffen Peters nearly overtook Kemmer with a freestyle score of 76.5 percent on Ravel, but couldn't quite catch up from starting the day in fourth and stayed in that place with a final average of 74.150.

"He had tension in the start and that was the difference," said Peters. "Fourth in the Olympics is not so bad. It's not quite enough but awfully close."

Werth and van Grunsven have swapped the top spot on the podium for a decade, with Werth winning the gold and van Grunsven silver in 1996.

In the freestyle, riders perform grand prix dressage movements choreographed to music of their choice, similar to freestyle skating. Last week, Werth led the Germans to team gold in dressage, while the Dutch won silver and Denmark bronze.

The equestrian events are being in Hong Kong instead of Beijing due to quarantine restrictions in mainland China.