Paralympics: Regine Mispelkamp and Anna-Lena Niehues win silver – drama surrounding Isabell Nowak

Regine Mispelkamp and Anna-Lena Niehues have each won their third medal in the dressage freestyle at the Paralympics in Paris. Isabell Nowak once again came away empty-handed despite a great performance on Saturday (07.09.2024).

Before the competition, Nowak was the only German rider without a medal. In the individual competition, the 41-year-old and Siracusa Old had taken the disappointing fourth place, and she was not part of the team competition. But with a great freestyle, she seemed to break this spell. After the ride, for which the jury gave her a score of 73.540, she hugged and celebrated her horse, pleased with her performance, which had brought her to the top at that point.

Three riders were still waiting for their freestyle – as Mispelkamp was one of them, a German medal was already guaranteed. Sophie Wells (Great Britain) and LJT Egebjerggards Samoa came out on top with a score of 75.445, and the outstanding Michele George (Belgium/81.470) then ensured a German showdown for a medal with a best of 8. Once again, Nowak came out on the worse end.

Mispelkamp, ​​who won silver in the individual and bronze in the team, once again showed a great performance with Highlander Delight's and outperformed her teammate. With a score of 79.550, the 53-year-old pushed past Nowak and also Wells to take silver.

Niehues was only dethroned at the last moment

After her third places individually and with her teammates, Niehues was one of the favorites in the Grade IV competition with Quimbaya and beamed after her ride in the dressage arena – after which she was on course for gold.

The 40-year-olds and their horse did make a few small mistakes, but they showed a clean basic technique and harmonized perfectly with their music. The medal was already certain after a score of 80,900, as only two competitors were left to start. The French local hero Vladimir Vinchon and Pegase Mayenne had no chance with a score of 76,230, but then Demi Haerkens came along.

With an outstanding freestyle, the Dutchwoman thrilled the audience and the jury, who awarded her a score of 83.390 and declared her the clear winner. For Haerkens, it was already the second gold after her victory in the individual event. In the team event, the Dutch team came second.

“We are at the Paralympics, you should show your best performance. I wanted to show that here too, we were already at a good level shortly before Paris, I had hoped to build on that. And then you are happy when that works out.”said Niehues in the Sportschau interview. “When we trotted into the stadium, I had the feeling: 'Wow, this is going to be really good.'”

Dressing will also take place on the podium

The German riders still have a hope of winning a medal at the end of the Paralympics competitions. In the Grade II competition class, Heidemarie Dresing will be the last of eight starters to enter the dressage arena and will win her first individual medal.