On Monday, November 21, the Gold Medal Show Jumping Team from the 2004 Athens Olympic Games was honored by the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation with a Gold Medal Reception hosted by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at Gracie Mansion in Manhattan. A select group of approximately 150 guests, including Olympic horse owners and other friends and supporters of the U.S. team, attended the two-hour evening event. All four members of the Gold Medal Show Jumping Team were present: Beezie Madden, Chris Kappler, McLain Ward and Peter Wylde, as well as the Chef d’Equipe at Athens, Frank Chapot.
The reception was scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the official residence for the Mayor of New York City and was presented in a precisely timed program of activities centered in the mansion’s ballroom, which featured a display of enlarged photos of the athletes in competition at the 2004 Athens Olympics, music by pianist Michael Carney, an open bar with a wait staff circulating hors d’oeuvres. USET Foundation representatives Frank Lloyd, Chairman of the Board, and Dr. Armand Leone, President, were on hand to greet guests as they entered the ballroom. Also in attendance representing the USET Foundation were Bonnie Jenkins, Executive Director; Allan Shore, Treasurer; Eric Straus, Secretary; and Maureen Pethick, Campaign Manager. Representatives of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) were present, including John Long, CEO; and High Performance staff members James Wolf, Executive Director; Sally Ike, Director of Show Jumping; and Kathryn Huber, Assistant Director, Show Jumping.
A 45-minute socializing period prior to the presentations provided guests with the opportunity to tour two floors of the period-decorated Gracie Mansion under the direction of knowledgeable guides who provided historic background of the furnishings and estate. Guests also were provided with the opportunity to be introduced to Mayor Bloomberg and have a photo taken with him as a memento of the event.
The 40-minute presentation ceremony honoring the Gold Medal Show Jumping Team athletes and the owners of their Athens Olympic mounts was held in the ballroom. Bloomberg delivered welcoming remarks, noting that as the mayor of a city that he hopes will one day host the Olympic Games, as well as his role as father of a show jumping athlete, Georgina Bloomberg, who recently represented the U.S. in the Samsung Super League competitions, he was personally honored to host the celebration.
In his speech honoring the Olympic Gold Medal Show Jumping Team, Bloomberg thanked both Madden and Wylde for flying in from Europe to be present at the evening’s ceremonies. Bloomberg congratulated the athletes on their “amazing victory.” He also recognized Kappler and Royal Kaliber (now deceased) for their Individual Silver medal and for Kappler’s compassion and sportsmanship when he retired "Roy" during the jump-off for the Individual Gold when the stallion sustained an injury on course.
To share some of the memories of the Team’s athletes (horses and humans), Bloomberg introduced a five-minute United States Olympic Committee (USOC) video tape from the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, which showcased show jumping action footage of each of the honored athletes, including team alternate Alison Firestone.
Bloomberg then introduced the current Chef d’Equipe of the Show Jumping Team and USET Foundation Trustee, George Morris. In his speech, Morris paid tribute to the contributions of the Chef d’Equipe at Athens, Chapot, calling him to the podium where he was presented with an engraved silver tray as a gift from the USET Foundation.
“This is such a wonderful evening, and it is nice to see our United States show jumping team recognized as the 2004 Olympic Games Gold medalists,” said Morris. “These are incredibly talented individuals that