Lucy Davis and her USA teammates weren’t horsing around in the show jumping finals at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
Aboard her 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Barron, the 23-year-old equestrienne had zero penalties in the second round of qualifications at Deodoro Olympic Park. Davis, appearing in her first Olympic Games, was the youngest rider in the field.
Davis, Kent Farrington, Beezie Madden and McLain Ward tied for first place with Brazil, the Netherlands and Germany (all with zero penalties) in Round 1 of the team finals Tuesday, but Madden, a four-time Olympian, was forced to withdraw from the competition when her horse, Cortes ‘C,’ suffered an injured tendon.
Down one rider, Team USA needed near-perfect performances in Round 2 of the finals to earn a medal Wednesday. Davis, Farrington and Ward accrued five points between them to secure the silver medal. France took the gold with only three penalties and Germany (eight penalties) won the bronze in a jump-off with Canada.
Davis tied for 32nd with 12 penalties in the individual competition Friday. Farrington (fifth place) was the highest American finisher.
Davis grew up in and around Pacific Palisades and played soccer while attending St. Matthew’s. She won the U.S. Equestrian Team’s 2012 Lionel Guerrand-Hermes Trophy, presented to a young rider exemplifying sportsmanship.
— Steve Galluzzo
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