Uruguay’s Marcelo Chirico claims individual gold at Youth Olympics

Marcelo Chirico, flanked by Mario
Gamboa and Dalma Rushdi H Malhas.
By IOC

Marcelo Chirico (URU) and Links Hot Gossip took individual gold after a jump-off against Mario Gamboa (COL), who took silver. After a six-way jump-off for the bronze medal, Dalma Rushdi H Malhas (KSA) claimed the final award.

All riders from Sunday’s first individual round, with the exception of Maria Victoria Paz (ARG) who was eliminated, went forward to the second round, held today and jumped in reverse order of merit.

Australian course-designer John Vallance upped the degree of difficulty for the final competition and this was reflected in the number of clear rounds.

A Liverpool at fence four, with wings made in the image of the Singapore Flyer, on a related line from a double caused the most grief.
Five of Sunday's faulters improved their scores with clears, while only two of those carrying no faults forward, Marcelo Chirico and Mario Gamboa, were clear again.

Marcelo Chirico was first in to jump-off for the gold and produced a smooth clear round. Mario Gamboa followed with LH Titan, but faulted at the second fence.

"I never imagined I would be a Youth Olympic Games champion. Now I am hoping one day I can be an Olympic champion, maybe in London or Rio," said Marcelo. "My horse jumped very well. He was careful and wanted to help me."

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