Tokyo 2020: Charlotte Dujardin wins dressage bronze

Charlotte Dujardin has become Great Britain’s most decorated female Olympian after winning the bronze medal in the individual dressage event.

She was denied a third successive Olympic title in the event by two German athletes – Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, who scored 91.732% on TSF Dalrea, and Isabell Werth, who holds the record for the most Olympic medals won by any equestrian athlete (with 12) and who took silver with 89.657% on Bella Rose II.

On the relatively inexperienced Gio, Dujardin gave a near faultless display and scored 88.543%, and there were tense moments as she waited to see whether Dorothee Schneider would surpass her mark and afford Germany a clean sweep.

Dujardin said: “As you can see, I have a new dancing partner in Gio and my little pocket rocket has a heart of gold. He gave everything and I am so overwhelmed. I was literally throwing him from one thing to another thing, and he just keeps going. What he has done here is phenomenal.”

This bronze is Dujardin’s sixth Olympic medal – she won a record-equalling fifth with a bronze in the team dressage event a day before.

After the event, she said: “It is mind blowing. To think I have achieved all of that. It’s just so surreal. Being level with Katherine Grainger was good enough, and now I have beaten her. It’s incredible, and I can honestly say I am proud of myself.”

She now has three gold medals, one silver and two bronzes.

Her mark of six medals could still be challenged at the Tokyo Games by cyclist Laura Kenny, who currently has four gold medals (two from London, two from Rio) and is entering three events this time round.