Tokyo Olympics dressage freestyle highlights: bronze for Britain, a first-time champion and Les Misérables

The Tokyo Olympics dressage freestyle provided an incredible climax to the four days of dressage competition in Japan. Here are the five things you need to know about today...

Charlotte Dujardin exceeded all expectations with the inexperienced Gio to take the individual bronze medal for Britain in the Tokyo Olympics dressage freestyle tonight. The pair scored 88.54% for their flawless test, a huge personal best.

• Find out what Team GB record Charlotte broke today and why she said her test was like “the blind leading the blind”

Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl took gold on the lovely mare TSF Dalera, a first individual title for the 35-year-old German. She scored 91.73%.

• Hear what this win means to Jessica

Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour pulled out the ride she’s been looking for all week with Bohemian, riding her Les Misérables freestyle. She had to settle for fourth, though, just off the podium.

• Discover what Cathrine’s attitude was going into the arena today

Former Olympic champion and current world number one Isabell Werth claimed silver in the Tokyo Olympics dressage freestyle, sandwiched between Jessica and Charlotte.

• Find out her reaction to her performance with Bella Rose 2

Britain’s other two riders also did us proud, with Carl Hester finishing eighth on En Vogue with 81.81% in the horse’s first international freestyle and Olympic debutante Lottie Fry taking 13th on Everdale with plus-80%.

• Hear from Carl about his aims for today’s ride – and whether they were fulfilled

And a bonus extra…

H&H’s reporters Pippa Roome and Polly Bryan were with Jessica when she effectively found out she was the new Olympic champion.

• Read why the experience was both wonderful and heartbreaking

You might also be interested in:

Charlotte Dujardin on her fantastic individual Olympic bronze – ‘I wasn’t going down without a fight’

Isabell Werth pulls out all the stops in bid for individual Olympic glory

‘It felt extra special to do that here’: poignant moment as Totilas son pays homage to late sire in Olympic freestyle

Lottie Fry smashes 80% barrier on Tokyo Olympic freestyle debut

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Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.