 |
U.S.
Rider Lynn Seidemann Wins Gold at I.P.E.C. Dressage World
Championships for Riders With Disabilities
U.S. Finishes Sixth in Team Competition
|
Gladstone,
New Jersey—September 6, 2003— Lynn Seidemann of Coppell,
TX won the individual Gold Medal in the International Paralympic
Equestrian Committee (I.P.E.C.) Dressage World Championships in
Moorsele, Belgium.
Competing
in the Grade I-B division, Seidemann, a member of the U.S. team
at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, received a score of 73.89%
in the individual final. Her final score was more than a full
point better than the 72.63 turned in by Silver Medalist Jens
Dokkan of Norway. Birgit Dreiszis of Germany won the Bronze Medal
with a score of 72.11. In the first day’s opening round,
Seidemann scored 67.47%.
In
the team competition, the U.S. finished sixth out of 22 teams.
The U.S. team included Seidemann, who competed in Grade I-B on
Phoenix B; Robin Brueckmann of Summerfield, NC who competed in
Grade IV on Richmond; Barbara Grassmyer of Placerville, CA who
competed in Grade III on Polonius Millesine; and Rebecca Hart
of Erie, PA who competed in Grade III also on Phoenix B. They
received a team score of 396.89. Great Britain won the team Gold
with a score of 436.25. Germany won the Silver with 428.12 and
Norway won the Bronze with 413.47.
The
U.S. team was selected by the National Disability Sports Alliance
(NDSA) and fielded by the U.S. Equestrian Team (USET). In addition
to the four riders on the team, the squad also included Kathryn
Groves of Winter Garden, FL and Cynthia Ruiz of Houston, TX who
were competing in the Championships as individuals.
The
U.S. riders were among more than 125 riders with similar disabilities
from 35 countries at the four-day World Championships. Participants
competed in Individual Championship tests and Musical Freestyles
as well as the Team test. In addition to the prestige of winning
medals and championships, top-finishing teams and individuals
at the I.P.E.C. World Championships earn places for their country’s
athletes to participate in the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens.
The
NDSA is the national governing body for equestrian sport for riders
with disabilities. The non-profit organization is responsible
for the development and selection of riders for national championships
and international competitions, including World Championships
and the Paralympic Games, and provides training, competition and
advocacy for riders of all levels with physical disabilities.
For more information about NDSA and opportunities to support the
programs, please visit our website at www.ndsaequestrian.org or
contact Denise Avolio at (914) 949-8166 or diavolio@ndsaonline.org.
The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization
that selects, trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest
possible standard to represent our country in major international
competition, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships.
To accomplish this, the USET seeks out and nurtures the development
of talented athletes - riders, drivers and horses - and provides
the support and guidance they need to help them attain their fullest
potential. For more information on the USET, please call (908)
234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org
.
