Individual, Open

As in 1996, the individual and team events were held separately. American David O’Connor led the dressage phase, and then rode cleanly in the endurance event, as did 10 other riders, giving him the lead going into the jumping. O’Connor needed less than two faults to win gold, and he rode the course missing only the sixth barrier to claim the gold medal. Silver went to Australian Andrew Hoy, while the bronze went to New Zealand’s Mark Todd, the event gold medalist in 1984 and 1988.

Although 11 riders finished the endurance phase with no penalties, it proved to be quite dangerous, as two riders were hospitalized, four horses were severely injured, and one had to be put down.