Cheltenham equestrian Laura Collett revelled in an Olympic record dressage score and reaped the rewards of changes made since Tokyo. 

Collett and horse London 52, known as ‘Dan’ at the yard, started Paris 2024 in the best possible fashion. 

They produced a score of 17.50 in the shortened dressage test: the best performance in Games history in the first stage of the three-day eventing competition.

“I loved every second of it – that horse is unbelievable,” said Collett.

“What he’s done throughout my whole career is incredible and he keeps on delivering. I’m very grateful to him.”

Collett helped Team GB win gold in the team event on debut in Tokyo. 

London 52 is the only horse returning in Paris who helped claim the historic title, but the pair did not produce the dressage test they hoped for in Japan.

Laura Collett and London 52 are the only pair from Tokyo 2020 who are competing in Paris 2024Laura Collett and London 52 are the only pair from Tokyo 2020 who are competing in Paris 2024 (Image: Garry Bowden/Team GB)

“It’s changed an awful lot since Tokyo. It didn’t work there,” said Collett. “It’s been quite testing really – two days ago he was absolutely wild in that arena, and he was pretty naughty and feral. 

“But I had to just trust that I didn’t want him perfect two days ago – it was all building up. He was very good yesterday, but again it would have been easy to just push him to that extra bit, but I thought we’ll wait and do it just in the last 10 minutes and save it for the arena. The plan paid off.”

Collett is one of over 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing them to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support – which has been vital on their pathway to the Paris 2024 Games. 

Collett and London 52 have won two five-star titles since Tokyo and are in pole position to challenge for individual honours in the stunning surrounds of Château de Versailles. 

Michael Jung also produced a brilliant 17.80 with the German and Collett taking a commanding early lead with cross-country and showjumping stages still to come.

The 34-year-old felt that Dan really rose to the occasion.

“That horse is one in a million,” she said. “I’ve said it all along that he loves a crowd, and I was just hoping that I hadn’t made a mistake saying that when I saw how big the crowd was.

“He’s an absolute show-off, he loves being in front of a palace with a lot of people cheering him on. I’m just so lucky to sit on a horse like that. 

“There’s a lot of people involved in getting a score like that. I’m just the lucky one that gets to sit there and enjoy the moment. From everyone back home, it’s a huge, huge team effort, just to get here, let alone do a performance like that. There are too many people to thank individually, but the National Lottery have got us here, given us the opportunity to come and show us at our best, and for that we’re so grateful.”

Team GB are overwhelming favourites in the team competition with Collett’s team-mates Ros Canter and Tom McEwen excelling to finish sixth and tenth in dressage, respectively. 

“We have such an amazing bond as a team,” said Collett. “We’re here as individuals, but fundamentally we’re here as a team to go and win a gold medal. Me and Tom were lucky to be in Tokyo and get that feeling – we know what it’s like, we want to do it again.”

With more than £30M a week raised for Good Causes, including vital funding into elite and grassroots sport, National Lottery players support our Olympic and Paralympic athletes to live their dreams and make the nation proud, as well as providing more opportunities for people to take part in sport.  To find out more visit: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk