Anky's Story: Her Turn for Ultimate Victory

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2000 Olympic Games

Anky van Grunsven and Olympic Bonfire (by Welt As) won the individual gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Check out Dirk Caremans' photo report.

The crowd trembled in the stands with amazement and tears flowed unlimitedly over the cheeks of many as Anky finished her gold medal winning freestyle ride.

Her last ride in Sydney was the end of the Anky-Bonfire era, but victory is sweet and carries the colour of gold. Bonfire almost seemed to know that he produced something special for his owner...

Photos by Dirk Caremans - Copyrighted: no reproduction allowed without payment

Bonfire being prepared in the warm-up ring for the final test in his life. "Something Old, Something New", a new custom made kur to music, has to launch the combination to international dressage stardom and the 2000 Olympic individual gold medal.

Anky's freestyle was impeccable. With Bonfire being 110% on the aids and Anky fully focussed, a never precedented ballet of horse and rider was given in Horsley Park at the 2000 Olympic Games.

Anky van Grunsven and Bonfire on their way to win gold

nky sighs in relief: Victory is hers. Never before was she able to beat her life-time rival Isabell Werth on Nissan Gigolo FRH, but at the Olympics she finally did it. Her emotions found their way, as Anky knows that with this ultimate victory.

Anky and Sjef Janssen, her partner and trainer, share their feelings of victory and relief.

Gold shimmers more than silver.. Ulla Salzgeber, the 2000 Olympic bronze medallist, shares Anky's joy. The feeling of having this symbol hanging round her neck must be amazing.

The final award ceremony. Bonfire and Anky galloped past the German fans, who acknowledged her victory as fair and honest.

And then, everything was over.. the era came to an end and all that is left now, is the memory of a legend, and an old horse grazing in the field with the Shetland pony Bugs Bunny as his companion.