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Teams are supposed to earn gold at the Olympics, not just go there and win because they are the favorites or because they dominate.There is a bit of luck in every sport, but XC is not a lottery. If it is then Jung is one incredibly lucky chap But whatever, thankfully the IOC doesn't freak out and want sport out of the Olympics whenever favorites don't win, so I'm not worried at all.

Well done Guess what? Another bronze for Japan

Stipanović 1st after day 1

Well done Myanmar! Making tripartite nations proud.

Having the fastest time is not about riding as much as having a fast horse. Jumps are there for a reason. Auffarth risked on first water and had a refusal, it's not lottery, it's her fault that she didn't have a better approach. Jung was fast because he was riding well (the best of all). Inexperienced Krajewski had refusals probably because of pressure. Klimke was going well but then refusal happened as she risked a lot. And after that she made a stupid mistake by jumping a wrong fence, she can blame only herself for that. Last time we had as tough course as this (2014) Germany won. But mistakes happen and this time it wasn't their day.

Organizers don't design the course, there is a special course designer for that. And it was the same designer of that tough test in Normandy in 2014, so they could have known what to expect. Klimke interestingly still isn't officially eliminated. She should be because she jumped the wrong fence after refusal. Linda Algotsson made the same mistake on the same fence and was eliminated.

Yeah, except the only thing Alex has with China is his father. Born and live in GB.

Exactly. We are so used to having "dressage" competition these days while in reality eventing should be 1) cross-country 2) dressage 3) jumping One of the greats of eventing Ian Stark said that this course was about riding, and clearly it was.

We are the masters of trap! Woooohooooo!!!!

No it wasn't. They added the refusal by mistake, many riders made turn on that obstacle and nobody else got it Klimke eliminated.

Auffarth had her 20 penalties at last water removed (as I expected). Suddenly Germany could be back.

OMG horrible finish for Australia

Brecciroli eliminated after stupid mistake What a pitty, Italy could have actually been in top 3 after this.

Lemoine 14.40 France 161.00 after XC. Australia guaranteed to lead after XC

Another nasty fall. Spisak

Donckers eliminated

Yeah, it looked for a moment that Veronica won't stand up. You could see how worried Lauren Kieffer got.

Horrible fall for Kieffer and Veronica. They seem to be alright though. Team USA eliminated (well, they get 1000 points).

Krajewski eliminated after 3rd refusal

Second refusal for Krajewski at house. Perhaps no team medal for Germany. Johnsteon 4.80.

Krajewski with refusal at first water! Naber-Lozeman 52.00

Funnell refusal at frog Ends with 40.40 penalties Mitin eliminated for not jumping correctly at last water

Tinney 2.80 Australia

Roman 20.00 time I'm impressed with Italians, very good on XC

Vallette 24.40 Clear but slow, France losing ground considerably