The 1980 equestrian games were not a top competition, like the other Olympic Games, because almost all the top riders missed the competition due to the boycott. In the eventing competition, the Soviets were favored in both the individual and team competition, as in the other equestrian events at the 1980 Olympics, but did not meet expectations. Sergey Rogozhin took gold in the team event, but finished only a distant 11th in the individual competition. The Olympic gold was the only title of note Rogozhin won during his career. Rogozhin died of injuries sustained in a riding accident during field testing before the 1983 Soviet Championships in Kostroma.