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From drug shame to Olympic glory
After missing the Olympics twice, Eric Lamaze grabbed his chance with both hands this time, winning the individual showjumping gold at Sha Tin on August 22.
Photo: AP
Former outcast Eric Lamaze – twice banned for drug abuse – completed a remarkable journey from the depths of despair to the heights of Olympic glory when he grabbed gold in the individual showjumping event at Sha Tin on Thursday.
Canada's Lamaze, riding Hickstead, beat Sweden's Rolf-Goran Bengtsson on Ninja in a tense jump-off, as well as the approaching Typhoon Nuri, to lift the final gold medal on offer at the Hong Kong equestrian events almost on the stroke of midnight.
"This is so amazing. It is a tremendous feeling to finally have won the gold. It is something I have been waiting for a long time and it has been worthwhile," an overjoyed Lamaze said.
Although 40, it was Lamaze's first appearance at an Olympics. He was banned twice by Canadian sport officials after testing positive for cocaine before the 1996 Games in Atlanta and then testing positive for ephedrine before the 2000 Sydney Olympics, for which he was handed a lifetime ban.
That was revoked later. And the journey for Canada's prodigal son began. It ended in joy and resounding cheers from large sections of the fans, who held banners which read "Lamazing".
"This is my dream come true finally. It this doesn't get any better than this," said a happy Lamaze, who was also part of the Canadian team who won the silver medal in the team showjumping.
Both Lamaze and Bengtsson were equal after two strength-sapping rounds. Seven others were also tied, one jump penalty behind, and they too went into the jump-off – for the bronze medal.
"I enjoyed every second of riding this course. I tried my best for the gold, but just couldn't manage it," said the 46-year-old Bengtsson, who faulted at the last of the six fences in the jump-off. He had to settle for silver after Lamaze had a clear round.
American Beezie Madden, on Authentic, edged out Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum by 0.12 seconds for the bronze after both had clear rounds in the showdown.
"The main goal coming here was to defend our team gold which we won in Athens," Madden said. "We did that and then I thought, 'I would love to get an individual medal too'. I'm happy that I have achieved that."
Falling by the wayside at the crunch were German pair Ludger Beerbaum and Michaels-Beerbaum, as well as Athens gold medallist Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil.
A total of 34 riders had begun the night in search of Olympic glory. A dozen riders were weeded out after the first of two rounds in the medal competition. Among them was the grand old man of showjumping, 61-year-old Canadian Ian Millar, and Laura Kraut, part of the US gold medal-winning team.
Ten of the 22 riders who progressed to the final round went clear and the stage was set for a classic, and so it proved with Lamaze and Bengtsson providing a fitting finale.