Athens, Greece – The United States found the “silver lining” in what turned out to be a nail-biting, stomach-churning jump-off between the States and the Swedes for the silver and bronze Olympic medals. Germany clinched the gold in the evening’s competition but the Swedes and United States were left tied for second at 20 faults each. According to the rules, a jump-off for the silver and bronze would determine the medal standings.

In the four-on-four jump-off, Team USA was up seven-plus seconds with three riders (Peter Wylde, McLain Ward, and Chris Kappler) having all posted clear rounds on the shortened course. The Swedes (Peter Ericksson, Peder Frederickson, and Malin Baryard) determined that they could not match the U.S. time. The United States brings home a sweet silver medal for the team’s valiant efforts. The final Team results: Germany–gold; United States–silver (in a repeat of the 1988 Seoul and 1996 Atlanta Olympics); and Sweden, the bronze medal. It was the first team medal for Sweden since the 1928 Games in Amsterdam.

The members of the U.S. Show Jumping team are Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, N.Y.; Wylde, a Massachusetts native and a resident of Maastricht, The Netherlands; Kappler of Pittstown, N.J.; and Ward of Brewster, N.Y.

Sixty-three entries that were individual riders not representing a competing team rode first. A short break was set before the team medal riders began their efforts, which counted for both the team medal and qualified competitors to move on to Friday’s individual competition