Jessica Springsteen and the US equestrian team won big at the Tokyo Olympics!
With France getting two penalties in equestrian jumping, the U.S. and Sweden were set up for a jump-off in the Tokyo Olympics, an outcome the Americans were hoping for all along. However, the format for showjumping changed with this Olympics. In prior years, teams competed with four riders and took the top three qualifying scores. This year, the equestrian teams only were allowed three riders, thus making all three scores count.
The U.S. team with Jessica Springsteen brought home the silver medal.
Team USA Wins Equestrian Jumping's Silver Medal
It's back-to-back silver for @USequestrian's jumping team. #TokyoOlympics
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 7, 2021
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?Mclain Ward, Laura Kraut, and Jessica Springsteen were competing for the gold medal in the Tokyo games. This was the first Olympic competition for Springsteen, the 29-year old daughter of Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa — She did not disappoint in her Olympic debut. Springsteen rode Don Juan Van De Donkhoeve at the equestrian park as the second U.S. equestrian to ride through the course.
A jump-off is exactly what happened between the U.S. team and the Swedes' equestrian jumping team in 2018; then, they beat Sweden. However, at the Olympic games in Japan, it did not go the same way. As a result, Ward was pulled from individual jumping so he could participate in team jumping on Saturday night.
Going For The Gold
She was Born in the USA ?? and Born to Run (well, ride)
It was Glory Days for Jessica Springsteen, daughter of Bruce, as she helped Team USA to a silver medal in the showjumping with her Human Touch.
They'll be dancing on the Streets of Philadelphia tonight ??? pic.twitter.com/zUkgf6885u
— Eurosport (@eurosport) August 7, 2021
While the U.S. Olympians hoped to be gold medalists in the Tokyo 2020 team jumping final, they came in second. Finally, Swedish rider Peder Fredricson came through with an excellent time, squeaking out a victory and bringing home the Olympic gold.
The U.S. team was happy with their silver medals, though. It was the first Olympic medal for Springsteen, second for Kraut, and it brought Wards medal count to four. The final was just ahead of the closing ceremony for the Olympics, where Japan handed the flame off to China.
Springsteen is currently ranked 14th in the world in the sport of showjumping. The daughter of rock and roll Hall of Famer Bruce Springsteen began riding after her mom took lessons. Springsteen trained on her family farm in Colts Neck, New Jersey. Since family members were not allowed at the games due to the coronavirus, her parents watched her ride from home.
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