World #1 vs Olympic Champion: Who Prevailed in the First Leg of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 Dressage Individual Qualifiers

Dressage lovers scrutinize with attention every confrontation between Isabell Werth and Charlotte Dujardin. The two legendary riders will go at it again at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Both of them are in Group F, ready to battle it out. 

Isabell Werth is the most decorated equestrian athlete, Tokyo will be her sixth Olympic games. Charlotte will not have her legendary horse Valegro this time around. Charlotte and Valegro were the gold medallists at the Rio Olympics in 2016. 

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Isabell Werth and Bella Rose

Isabell Werth and her horse Bella Rose were last seen in a competition earlier this year at the 2021 CDI Manheim. They won the Grand Prix at the event, even after a break of 20 months from the competition. There seemed to be absolutely no rust on the chestnut mare in Manheim. 

The 52-year-old Isabell Werth became the most decorated Olympic equestrian athlete after the 2016 Rio Olympics. She has six gold medals to her name and will look to add to this at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. 

Isabell Werth is very confident in her horse Bella Rose and is confident going into the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Here is an excerpt from her autobiography, ‘Four Legs Move My Soul The Authorized Biography of Dressage Olympian Isabell Werth’ 

“Bella Rose was one of those, the best horse I had ever had. Not a day went by when I didn’t feel the fascination I first felt watching her all over again.

“Bella Rose was my horse, the culmination of everything I had experienced before… Bella was the perfect image, formed from the best puzzle pieces of all my top horses. She had Gigolo’s athleticism, and his commitment, willingness to move, and sportsmanship.

“She had Satchmo’s charm, flexibility, and his genius, but lacked his madness. And, just like Weihegold, she was not complicated at all and highly talented for passage and piaffe.”

The best of everything.

Charlotte Dujardin and Gio

The 3-time Olympic champion and reigning Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin will enter the ring with a new horse, Gio. The young 10-year-old Gelding has only competed in 3 Grand Prix, but if anyone knows how to guide a young horse around the arena, it’s Charlotte Dujardin.

As it stands, Isabell Werth and Bella Rose eclipsed Dujardin and Gio’s performance during the Group F qualification round. The pair scored an 82.5% to beat Gio’s personal best of 80.963% and top Group F. 

If the qualification rounds are any indication, we’re in for another thriller as the 2 legends go against each other in the Team and individual finals.