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Gold medalist German dressage rider Britta Naepel waves to the crowds during the victory ceremony of Individual Championship Test (Grade II) of Equestrian Events of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games at Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) in Hong Kong, south China, Sept. 8, 2008.[Xinhua]
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German rider Naepel Britta won the first Para-Equestrian Individual Championship Grade II gold medal at the Shatin Equestrian Venue on Monday.
Britta ranked first out of 18 riders with 71.900 percentage points. Silver went to Barwick Lauren of Canada who scored 68.454 points and Nielsen c.c. of Denmark took Bronze with 68.182 points.
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Naepel Britta rides horse Cherubin 15 during the final.[Xinhua]
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In a press conference after the competition, Gold medalist Naepel Britta said "I'm speechless. It's really a dream come true. I felt awful yesterday because the horse (CHERUBIN 15) did not do what I wanted, probably the weather was too hot. I tried to analyze this with my team until one o'clock this morning."
Silver medallist Barwick Lauren said "It's been a dream and a goal of mine for the past eight years. I'm a bit speechless, I need to absorb the goal I've achieved and then keep doing what I'm passionate about."
"Four days ago I didn't even think I was competing. I have an amazing team to help my horse (MAILE) to get through during the tough times", she said.
Nielsen c.c. of Denmark , who won Bronze for her country, said "I'm very happy. Today was what I'd dreamt of. It's a tremendous effort of a new horse (ROSTORN'S HATIM-T) and a new coach".