Comments from the Silver & Bronze Dressage Team Medallists

The Spanish silver medal team of (L-R) Ignacio Rambla, Juan Antonio Jimenez, Beatriz Ferrer-Salat and Rafael Soto stand on the podium during the medal ceremony in the team dressage Grand Prix competition

"Beatriz FERRER-SALAT (ESP) - Silver medallist
On comparing her first Olympic medal to the medals Spain has won at the World Equestrian Games:
"The first medal is always the most impressive. I was crying when I earned it two years ago. The Olympic medal is very important and it will remain deep in our heart. I am very proud of my colleagues. As for myself, I believe I have passed a fantastic test and my horse showed his great attitude."
 
On Germany's superiority in Team Dressage:
"We all train in Germany for a few months every year, where we find high quality horse shows. They have good trainers, the best horses. If you want to beat them, you have to be there with them and work like they do."
 
 
Rafael SOTO (ESP) - Silver medallist
On how Spain built up to this medal:
"This success didn't happen overnight. It happened with hard work and the support and help of all people involved with Dressage in Spain from 1995 until now.
 
"We didn't think about the medal, just cleared our minds and focused on competition. We are a team and as a group we have our good points and negative ones. We work to improve our weak points with the Team trainer Jean BEMELMANS (BEL), who took over after the Olympic Games in Atlanta."
 
On the difference in technique and style between Spain and Germany:
"We all use the same technique, it is the horses that make the difference. The way we ride is not different from any other country. Some of our horses might be of different breed, but they perform as well as the others".
 
Robert DOVER (USA) - Bronze medallist
On whether the bronze medal is enough for USA:
"We are always happy to win any medal. It is very exciting to be amongst the top three Dressage nations in the world. I am very proud of our team. We had some problems lately, Guenter (SEIDEL) competed with a young horse, but we managed to come through."
 

The United States bronze medal team of (L-R) Robert Dover, Lisa Wilcox, Deborah McDonald and Guenter Seidel stand on the podium during the medal ceremony in the team dressage Grand Prix competition

Lisa WILCOX (USA) - Bronze medallist
On how she overcame RELEVANT 5's injury:
"I have been out of competition for six months, because my horse suffered from a bowed tendon. I returned to compete in Lingen (Germany) and I realised I could make it to the Olympics.
 
"I had a lot of support and encouragement from my colleagues during the healing process. I never had so much stress in my career and I was elated when they announced I would be on the team. I am very proud to be here. It feels like I had a free ride."