Team, Men

Equestrian show jumping ended the 1948 Olympic Games, with the competition held at the Empire Stadium in Wembley, shortly before the Closing Ceremony. In 1948 there was only one set of exercises, which determined placements in both the individual and team competition. There were 16 obstacles, with 19 jumps, over a course 870 metres long with fences up to 1.60 metres high. The course was quite slippery because of heavy rain during the week, and was considered to be extremely difficult. No rider had a clean round in the main competition, and of the 14 entered teams, only three actually had all three of their riders finish the course. The last rider was Mexican Humberto Mariles, aboard Arete. As he took off, the other two Mexican jumpers had posted good marks, with only 28 faults, and if he could finish well, it would mean a Mexican gold medal. Mariles not only rode well, he posted only 6.25 faults, which brought him the individual gold medal and brought Mexico the team title. Spain took the silver medal, but their team total was over 20 faults behind the Mexicans. Great Britain was the only other team to finish the course with three riders, and they won bronze.