Equestrian at the 1980 Summer Olympics was represented by six events. All of them, with the exception of the Individual Jumping Grand Prix, were held in the Trade Unions' Equestrian Complex, which is situated in the Bitsa Forest Park (southern part of Moscow). Individual Jumping Grand Prix was held in the Grand Arena of the Central Lenin Stadium at Luzhniki (south-western part of Moscow).
Due to the US-led boycott, only eleven nations competed in the equestrian events: Austria, Bulgaria, Guatemala, Finland, Hungary, India, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Romania, and the USSR. Therefore, none of the top riders in the world competed, including the Italian eventing team and the current European champion in dressage, Austrian Sissy Theurer. India also sent an eventing team, but all four of its riders were eliminated. Team dressage event featured only four countries, guaranteeing three of them a medal (the Russians won gold). Overall, there were 68 entries from 11 nations in the equestrian competition at the 1980 Olympics.
Disciplines
Show jumping 26 riders from seven nations competed over Viatcheslav Kartavski's course, including six teams, none of whom were dominating powers in international show jumping. The course was kept easy, with ideal distances between fences. Only sixteen riders competed in the individual show jumping competition, including one each from Finland and Guatemala. The Guatemalan, Oswaldo Mendaz, finished in fourth place after losing the jump-off for bronze to Mexico's Joaquin Perez de la Heras. This remained the highest placing of a Guatemalan athlete at the Olympics until Erick Barrondo won an athletics silver medal in 2012. Silver went to Nikolaj Korolkov, finishing with 9.5 penalties, and gold went to Poland's Jan Kowalczyk, who had a rail in each round.
Dressage Of the 14 riders (seven nations) competing in dressage, there was only one top international competitor: 26-year-old Elisabeth Theurer on her Hanoverian Mon Cheri. She finished the Grand Prix an astonishing 35 points ahead of the second place finisher Yuri Kovshov, and 82 points ahead of the third place winner Viktor Ugriumov. She spread this margin even further in the Grand Prix Special, to 90 points ahead of silver and 136 points ahead of bronze. However, her win was not marred by controversy, and the Austrian National Equestrian Federation's President resigned after her decision to compete.
Following the boycott from Western nations, the Soviet Union had to stimulate Soviet Bloc countries of Bulgaria, Poland and Romania to take part in a team competition on a short notice. As a consequence, most of the participants were very inexperienced and have scored some of the lowest marks in the Olympic history. Without any significant competition, the Soviet dressage team won by a record 803 points ahead of the silver medal winning Bulgarian team. This was managed even without one of their top riders, Elena Petushkova, after her horse died from an illness.
Eventing Only six nations competed, but with the addition of the 1964 Olympics gold medal winners (Italy) to the team fielded by the USSR (three-time European Champion), there was some competition. Endurance day was held in Bitsa forest park, over very deep footing, and included a 5500 meter Phase A, 3795 meter Steeplechase, 12100 meter Phase C, and a final 7685 meter cross-country course. Although the course was inviting, 11 of the 28 starters were eliminated.
Medal summary Individual dressage Team dressageYuri Kovshov and Igrok Viktor Ugryumov and Shkfval Vera Misevich and PlotPetar Mandajiev and StchiborSvetoslav lvanov and AlekoGheorghi Gadjev and VnimatelenAnghelache Donescu and Dor Dumitru Veliku and DecebalPetre Rosca and Derbist Individual eventing Team eventingAleksandr Blinov and GalzunYuri Salnikov and PintsetValery Volkov and TskhetiSergei Rogozhin and GelespontFederico Roman and Rossinan Anna Casagrande and DaleyeMauro Roman and Dourakine 4Marina Sciocchetti and Rohan de Lechereo Manuel Mendívil and Remember David Bárcena and BombonJosé Luis Pérez Soto and QueliteFabián Vázquez and Cocaleco Individual jumping Team jumpingVyacheslav Chukanov and GepatitViktor Poganovsky and TopkyViktor Asmaev and ReisNikolai Korolkov and EspadronMarian Kozicki and BremenJan Kowalczyk and ArtemorWiesław Hartman and NortonJanusz Bobik and SzampanJoaquín Pérez and AlymonyJesús Gómez and MassacreGerardo Tazzer and CaribeAlberto Valdes Jr. and Lady Mirka
Medals The Soviet Union dominated team competitions, winning gold medals in all of them. However, they did not win any individual gold as Italy, Poland and Austria won the individual jumping, eventing and dressage competitions, respectively.
Events Individual dressage Final RankName HorseCountry TimeScore 1 Elisabeth Theurer Mon Cherie 7:44 1370 2 Yuri Kovshov Igrok 7:35 1300 3 Viktor Ugryumov Shkval 8:03 1234 4 Vera Misevich Plot 7:53 1231 5 Kyra Kyrklund Piccolo 8:02 1121 6 Anghelache Donescu Dor 7:20 960 7 Georgi Gadzhev Vnimatelen 881 8 Svetoslav Ivanov Aleko 850 9 Petar Mandajiev Schibor 846 10 Józef Zagor Helios 804 11 Petre Roşca Derbist 741 12 Dumitru Velicu Decebal 720 13 Elżbieta Morciniec Sum 14 Wanda Wąsowska Damask
Team dressage Final RankName HorseCountry Score 1 Yuri KovshovViktor UgryumovVera Misevich lgrokShkvalPlot 4383 2 Petar MandajievSvetoslav lvanovGheorghi GadjevStchiborAlekoVnimatelen 3580 3 Anghelache DonescuDumitru VelikuPetre RoscaDorDecebalDerbist 3346 4 Jozef ZagorElżbieta MorciniecWanda WąsowskaHeliosSumDamask 2945
Three-day event Final RankName HorseCountry Score 1 Federico Roman Rossinan -108.60 2 Aleksandr Blinov Galzun -120.80 3 Yuri Salnikov Pintset -151.60 4 Valery Volkov Tskheti -184.60 5 Tzvetan Dontchev Medisson -185.80 6 Mirosław Szłapka Erywań -241.80 7 Anna Casagrande Daleye -266.20 8 Mauro Roman Dourakine 4 -281.40 9 Marina Sciocchetti Rohan de Lechereo -308.40 10 Manuel Mendívil Remember -319.75 11 Sergey Rogozhin Gelespont -338.80 12 David Bárcena Bombona -362.50 13 Jacek Wierzchowiecki Bastion -411.80 14 László Cseresnyés Fapipa -436.20 15 José Luis Pérez Quelite -490.60 16 István Grózner Biboros -498.60 17 Zoltán Horváth Lamour -668.60 - Dimo Khristov Bogez DNF - Stanisław Jasiński Hangar DNF - Dzhenko Sabev Normativ DNF - Fabián Vázquez Cocaleco DNF - Mihály Oláh Ados DNF - Trifon Datsinski Mentor-2 DNF - Jacek Daniluk Len DNF - Muhammad Khan I-Am-It DNF - Darya Singh Bobby DNF - Jitendarjit Singh Ahluwalia Shiwalik DNF - Hussain Singh Rajdoot DNF
Team three-day event
Final RankName HorseCountry Score 1 Aleksandr BlinovYuri SalnikovValery VolkovSergei Rogozhin GalzunPintsetTskhetiGelespont 457.00 2 Federico RomanAnna CasagrandeMauro RomanMarina Sciocchetti RossinanDaleyeDourakin 4Rohan de Lechereo 656.20 3 Manuel MendivilDavid BárcenaJosé Luis PérezFabián Vázquez RememberBombonaQueliteCocaleco 1172.85 4 László Cseresnyéslstván GróznerZoltán HorváthMihály OláhFapipaBiborosLamourAdos 1603.40 - Mirosław SzłapkaJacek Wierzchowiecki Stanisław Jasiński Jacek DanilukErywanBastionHangarLen DNF - Tsvetan DontchevDimo KhristovDzhenko SabevTrifon DatsinskiMedissonBogezNormativMentor-2 DNF - Muhammad KhanDarya SinghJitendarjit Singh AhluwaliaHussain KhanI-Am-ItBobbyShewalikRajdoot DNF
Individual jumping grand prix Final RankName HorseCountry Score 1 Jan Kowalczyk Artemor 8.00 2 Nikolai Korolkov Espadron 9.50 3 Joaquín Pérez Alymony 12.00 4 Oswaldo Méndez Pampa 12.00 5 Viktor Poganovsky Topky 15.50 6 Wiesław Hartman Norton 16.00 7 Barnabás Hevesy Bohem 24.00 8 Marian Kozicki Bremen 24.50 9 Vyacheslav Chukanov Gepatit 24.75 10 Boris Pavlov Montblanc 26.50 11 Alberto Valdés, Jr. Lady Mirka 28.00 12 Christopher Wegelius Monday Morning 30.25 13 Nikola Dimitrov Vals 36.25 14 Ferenc Krucsó Vadrozsa 40.25 - Dimitar Genov Makbet DNF - Jesús Gómez Massacre DSQ
Remark:for 3rd and 4th ranked contestants the standings are after jump-off.
Team jumping grand prix
Final RankName HorseCountry Score 1 Vyacheslav ChukanovViktor PoganovskyViktor AsmaevNikolai Korolkov GepatitTopkyReisEspadron 20.25 2 Marian KozickiJan KowalczykWiesław HartmanJanusz Bobik BremenArtemorNortonSzampan 56.00 3 Joaquin PérezJesús GómezGerardo TazzerAlberto Valdés, Jr. AlymonyMassacreCaribeLady Mirka 59.75 4 Barnabás HevesiFerenc KrucsóAndrás BalogiJózsef VarróBohemVadrózsaArtemisGambrinusz 124.00 5 Alexandru BozanDania PopescuIon PopaDumitru VeleaPrejmerSonorLicuriciFudul 150.50 6 Dimitar GhenovKhristo KatchovNikola DimitrovBoris PavlovMakbetPovodValsMonblan 159.50
Officials Appointment of officials was as follows:
Dressage Jaap Pot (Ground Jury President) Jytte Lemkow (Ground Jury Member) Erich Heinrich (Ground Jury Member) Tilo Koeppel (Ground Jury Member) Gustaf Nyblæus (Ground Jury Member)
Jumping Eryk Brabec (Ground Jury President) Antoine Dumont de Chassart (Ground Jury Member) Viacheslav Kartavski (Course Designer) Giovanni Marcone (Technical Delegate)
Eventing Fabio Mangilli (Ground Jury President) Valentin Mishin (Ground Jury Member) Zdenek Tepli-Widner (Ground Jury Member) Viacheslav Kartavski (Course Designer) Anton Bühler (Technical Delegate)
References
External links 1980 Summer Olympics on IOC Site