Equestrian jumping: Miles and McKinlaigh ride to silver in Hong Kong

The United States' Gina Miles (who lives in Creston, Ca.) won an Olympic silver medal at the Beijing Games equestrian center in Hong Kong on Tuesday, riding McKinlaigh through two clean rounds in the eventing individual jumping finals.

"I always knew he was the best event horse in the world," Miles said of McKinlaigh. "He had his day to shine at the Olympic Games."

"It was my dream just to be in the individual final, to be fourth or fifth," Miles told the U.S. Equestrian Federation after the competition. "This is the reward for a lifetime of hard work."

The gold in eventing individual jumping went to Hinrich Romeike, an amateur rider from Germany who praised his horse, Marius: "This horse means everything to my career. I would be nothing without this horse. I am a dental surgeon and dentist. I ride after work."

Britain's Tina Cook, riding Miners Frolic, took third.

The equestrian competition continues Wednesday in Hong Kong with the first round of dressage. The Beijing Games website has the upcoming schedule and all the results. The U.S. Equestrian Federation website has more on the day's events.

-- Greg Johnson

Updated at 5:40 p.m. to note Miles' California connection.

Photo: Gina Miles rides McKinlaigh during the eventing individual jumping finals of the Beijing Games equestrian competition in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Credit: Susan Walsh / Associated Press

Comments

[Katherine]

Thank you for finally providing some equestrian coverage! The discipline, however, is called eventing, not "eventing individual jumping". The jumping portion is one of three phases, along with dressage and cross-country. Gina was 10th after dressage, tied for 5th after X-C and had two spectacular jumping rounds to move up to win the silver. Congratulations Gina & McKinlaigh!

[c]

Though I can greatly appreciate the amazing athletic ability of all the athletes I am a little disheartened by the attention to Phelps. I am very proud of his accomplishments and I agree that he is one of the greatest athletes of all time, however the press coverage on him has overshadowed the great accomplishments of other disserving athletes. I miss the great human interest stories on the various athletes both American and from foreign countries. I have watched the Olympics this year with great excitement only to be bombarded with the mention of Michael Phelps accomplishments every two to five minuets. I would like to hear about some other athletes please.

[Bruce Aronow]

This is an amazing accomplishment and no accident. Looking up Gina's biography shows her dedication at so many levels. A brilliant result from exactly the kind of enthusiasm and discipline that should be a part of all our lives. She is a hero and deserves our greatest appreciation.