Tuesday September 9, 2003

U.S. Rider Lynn Seidemann Wins Gold at I.P.E.C. Dressage World Championships for Riders With Disabilities

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.