Date | 28 September 1988 — 9:30 | |
---|---|---|
Status | Olympic | |
Location | Seo-ul Gyeong-ma Gong-won, Gwacheon | |
Participants | 64 from 16 countries | |
Format | Two rounds. Four rider teams. Best three scores in each round determined team total. Separate competition. |
Each team had four members riding two rounds, with the three best scores in each round to count towards the team score. West Germany had won several Nations Cup events in 1986-87 and came in as the favorites, although the United States had won the 1986 World Championship, with Great Britain second. German Olaf Petersen designed the course, which measured 770 metres in length, with verticals up to 1.60 metres. The largest oxer was 2.00 metres wide and the water jump measured 4.60 metres in width.
In round one, the USA opened a big lead with only 4.25 faults, leading the United States by 8 faults, with Canada, Great Britain, and Switzerland tied for third with 16.00 faults. Only the top 12 teams advanced to the second round, from the 16 starters. West Germany struggled somewhat in round two, with 13.00 faults, as the United States had the best score with only 8.25 faults, but the West German lead was big enough to keep them in the lead, and bring them the gold medal. The USA won silver, with France, which had only been seventh after the first round but had the second best score in round two, winning bronze.