Individual, Open

There were only 28 starters from seven nations, with only Italy having a significant international equestrian history. Even India fielded a team, which had never before competed in Olympic equestrianism. Italy’s Federico Roman won the gold medal by taking the lead in the endurance phase, and missing only one fence in the jumping. Soviet riders went 2-3-4 – Aleksandr Blinov winning silver, Yury Salnikov bronze, and Valery Volkov placing fourth. At the Fontainebleau Eventing Festival in Paris, Denmark’s Nils Haagensen won the title, followed by American Jimmy Wofford and Torrance Watkins.