Roxie Trunnell, who won gold in Friday’s individual Grade I test, did it again today after achieving a record-breaking score. Ranked as world number one, topped her category of the freestyle at Baji Koen Equestrian Park with Karen Flint and Flintwoode Farm’s spectacular Dolton as the Paralympics ended its run in Tokyo.
She now matches the mark of U.S. para pioneer Vicki Garner-Sweigert, who took two golds in 1996, the first time the Paralympics were held in conjunction with the Olympics.Roxie’s score of 86.927 was a world record.
Roxie Trunnell gives Dolton a pat for a job well done. (Taylor Pence for USEF)
“He was really with the music and marching today like we really wanted,” said Roxie of her horse’s performance to the theme from the movie “Forrest Gump.”
“All of the little points were really there..He really loves his freestyle,” added Roxie, who is coached by Andrea Woodard. Asked about a highlight, she noted that.in the stretchdown, “he was really stretching.”
This was a different path to fulfillment of a dream she once held as an able-bodied rider, when she had earned a U.S. Dressage Federation bronze medal, was eyeing a silver and thinking about the Olympics. Then in 2009, a virus led to a stroke, and she found herself in a wheelchair.
Undaunted, she pursued the Para path. In 2016, she was 10th individually at the Paralympics, and then won bronze in 2018 at the FEI World Equestrian Games. Grade IV rider Kate Shoemaker originally had the ride on Dolton, but gave it up after realizing that, as coach Michel Assouline pointed out, Dolton’s great walk would make him a star in Grade I with Roxie. (Riders are graded on their degree of impairment, and the tests they ride are designed accordingly.)
A native of Washington State, Roxie moved to Florida so she could pursue her goals with Dolton.
“That was the right choice,” she said.
Kate, an equine veterinarian, continued on her road with Solitaer and today finished achingly close to the podium with a fourth place in Grade IV. Her score was 74.910, just short of bronze medal winner Manon Claeys 75.680 as the Belgian rider claimed the bronze.
It’s been an incredible Paralympics for the U.S., taking its first team medal (the bronze) and two individual golds. While Britain kept on the unbeaten streak it has enjoyed since 1996, the U.S. is on its way and could eye an upset in Paris 2024.
The other U.S. rider competing today, Beatrice de Lavallette, was 10th in that division on Clarc with a score of 72.194.
Britain’s star, Sir Lee Person, claimed his 14th Para gold in Grade II with a score of 82.447 percent on the very sensitive Breezer, who he has had since the horse was foaled.
“I’m twice over the moon – I actually didn’t care if I won a medal, that horse gave me his heart in there,” said Lee.
“He was braver than the team test, braver even than the individual test a few days ago. He still was nervous in there and we had a tiny little spook before I entered and I just half halted to say, ‘Daddy’s here’ and just kind of said, ‘Come on, we can do this’. Then, halfway through the test, I nearly started enjoying it and then I remembered I needed to get to the end before I enjoy it – he was amazing.”
Between the Olympics–where they were the only country to medal in all three disciplines–and the Paralympics, the Brits left Japan with 13 medals. The U.S. was no slouch, however, taking two silvers at the Olympics and two golds and a bronze in the Paralympics.