Michael Farwick on Laurentianer at the 2000 Bundeschampionate

Ulf Möller and Placido at the 2000 World Young Horse Championships :: Photo © Dirk Caremans

Nicole Uphoff on Ephedra S :: Photo © Steven Stegen

Iris Herkenroth on German Dancer :: Photo © Steven Stegen

Patricia Bottani and Diamond at the 2000 Olympic Games :: Photo © Dirk Caremans

Amanda Barr and Roma at the 2000 North American Young Riders Championships :: Photo © Mary Phelps

Eventing dressage at the 2000 Olympics: Bruno Goyans de Heusch on Graceland Cavalier :: Photo © Dirk Caremans

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David O'Connor and Custom Made in the cross country at the 2000 Sydney Olympics :: Photo © Dirk Caremans

Hans Heinrich Meyer zu Strohen on Poetin at the 2000 Bundeschampionate :: Photo © Steven Stegen

Chelsea Clinton rooting at the 2000 Olympics :: Photo © Arnd Bronkhorst

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 2000 Olympic gold medal winning German team: Ulla Salzgeber, Nadine Capellmann, Alexandra Simons-de Ridder, Isabell Werth

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

The 2000 Olympic silver medal winning Dutch team: Arjen Teeuwissen, Anky van Grunsven, Coby van Baalen, Ellen Bontje (chef d'equipe Jurgen Koschel)

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.

The 2000 Olympic bronze medal American team: Sue Blinks, Guenter Seidel, Robert Dover, Christine Traurig (chef d'equipe: Jessica Ransehousen)

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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 Wins Olympic Gold in Sydney :: Photo © Dirk Caremans

Anky van Grunsven and Bonfire on their way to win gold

Anky van Grunsven finally wins individual Olympic gold :: Photo © Dirk Caremans

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.

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.