Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, ON, won the Individual Gold Medal in show jumping on Sunday, July 29, at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, marking the first time in 24 years that a woman has claimed the honour. Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, won the Individual Bronze Medal.
Following the Team Final on Friday, which also formed the second and third phases of the individual competition, Canada’s show jumping athletes were in enviable positions with Henselwood in second, Ian Millar of Perth, ON, in third, and Lamaze in sixth from an original starting field of 47 competitors. The Canadian Show Jumping Team, formed by Henselwood, Lamaze, Millar and Mac Cone of King City, ON, won the Silver Medal as well as 2008 Olympic Games qualification on Friday.
On Sunday, only 29 horse-rider combinations attempted the two-round individual final. Course designer Guilherme Jorge of Brazil built a slightly shorter and less technically difficult first round track than he had for Friday’s Team Final with 12 numbered obstacles and 15 jumping efforts. Coming into the opening round of the Individual Final in 18th position, Cone and Melinda had a rail down at the final fence to improve on their position and move into 13th.
