Two-time Olympic champion Salinero passed away
At the age of 28, Anky van Grunsven's two-time Olympic champion Salinero has passed away.
Van Grunsven won individual Olympic gold with Salinero in Athens, four years later they managed to match this achievement at the Hong Kong Olympics and also won team silver. Another four years later, they won team bronze at the London Olympics and Salinero finished sixth individually at the age of 18. It was also his last international appearance.
On Facebook, Van Grunsven, president of The Dutch Masters, wrote: "My heart is broken. Salinero, my hero, has left us in tears. The memories never fade." Salinero enjoyed his retirement in good health since 2013, "at home" in the pasture in Erp at the Anky Education Centre. After he said goodbye to 'his' audience at Indoor Brabant in impressive fashion.
For years, Van Grunsven and Salinero dominated the (inter)national dressage stage, conquering all titles there were to win. Time and again, Salinero managed to move the audience and caused a lot of goose bumps with his magisterial freestyles to music. Besides all Olympic achievements, Salinero and Van Grunsven became individual European Champions in 2005 and 2007 and won team gold at the European Championships in 2007 and 2009 and team silver in 2005. In 2005, she became the first Dutch rider to win the CHIO in Aachen and a year later, she and Salinero took the world title in the freestyle at the World Equestrian Games. At the 2006 World Equestrian Games, they won individual silver and team gold. The World Cup final fell to this success combination four times. In addition, Anky and Salinero were Dutch champions no less than three times.
Salinero and Van Grunsven rose to great heights in dressage sport. They not only made history, but are a household name in Dutch and international sport.
(Source: KNHS/Photos: TDM/Digishots)
Van Grunsven won individual Olympic gold with Salinero in Athens, four years later they managed to match this achievement at the Hong Kong Olympics and also won team silver. Another four years later, they won team bronze at the London Olympics and Salinero finished sixth individually at the age of 18. It was also his last international appearance.
On Facebook, Van Grunsven, president of The Dutch Masters, wrote: "My heart is broken. Salinero, my hero, has left us in tears. The memories never fade." Salinero enjoyed his retirement in good health since 2013, "at home" in the pasture in Erp at the Anky Education Centre. After he said goodbye to 'his' audience at Indoor Brabant in impressive fashion.
For years, Van Grunsven and Salinero dominated the (inter)national dressage stage, conquering all titles there were to win. Time and again, Salinero managed to move the audience and caused a lot of goose bumps with his magisterial freestyles to music. Besides all Olympic achievements, Salinero and Van Grunsven became individual European Champions in 2005 and 2007 and won team gold at the European Championships in 2007 and 2009 and team silver in 2005. In 2005, she became the first Dutch rider to win the CHIO in Aachen and a year later, she and Salinero took the world title in the freestyle at the World Equestrian Games. At the 2006 World Equestrian Games, they won individual silver and team gold. The World Cup final fell to this success combination four times. In addition, Anky and Salinero were Dutch champions no less than three times.
Salinero and Van Grunsven rose to great heights in dressage sport. They not only made history, but are a household name in Dutch and international sport.
(Source: KNHS/Photos: TDM/Digishots)