Anky van Grunsven
Encyclopedia
Theodora Elisabeth Gerarda ("Anky") van Grunsven (born 2 January 1968 in Erp
, Noord-Brabant) is a Dutch
dressage
champion who won the gold medal in the 2000 Olympics
with her horse Bonfire and gold in the 2004 Olympics
and in the 2008 Olympics
with Salinero.
Van Grunsven has also dominated World Cup Dressage
competition, being named the World Cup Dressage Champion eight times, in 1995 (Los Angeles, riding Cameleon Bonfire), 1996 (Gothenburg, riding Cameleon Bonfire), 1997 (s'Hertogenbosch, riding Cameleon Bonfire), 1999 (Dortmund, riding Gestion Bonfire), 2000 (s'Hertogenbosch, riding Gestion Bonfire), 2004 (London, riding Gestion Salinero), 2005 (Las Vegas, riding Keltec Salinero), and 2006 (Amsterdam, riding Keltec Salinero), 2008 (Brabant, riding IPS Salinero)
Van Grunsven is married to Dutch national equestrian coach Sjef Janssen, with whom she has two children.
. She has moved to distance herself with the method since the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) declared in February 2010 this method "is seen as an aggressive way of a deep moving horse. This is forbidden as well as any head-neck position which is obtained in an aggressive way."
In a lawsuit announced on the 24th of August 2010, Anky claims she has been defamed by journalist Astrid Appels on the website eurodressage.com. A release posted on that website announcing the lawsuit reports that "according to Anky images of her horses can not be connected to the controversial rollkur training method." The lawsuit is scheduled to begin September 8, 2010 in Hertogenbosch.
Erp (Netherlands)
Erp is a town in the southern Netherlands. It is located in the province of North Brabant, between Den Bosch and Eindhoven. Before 1994, the municipality of Erp included the villages of Boerdonk and Keldonk...
, Noord-Brabant) is a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
dressage
Dressage
Dressage is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as "the highest expression of horse training." Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the World Equestrian Games...
champion who won the gold medal in the 2000 Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
with her horse Bonfire and gold in the 2004 Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
and in the 2008 Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
with Salinero.
Van Grunsven has also dominated World Cup Dressage
Dressage World Cup
The Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage is an annual international dressage series among the worlds best dressage horses and riders. It is held since 1985.- History :...
competition, being named the World Cup Dressage Champion eight times, in 1995 (Los Angeles, riding Cameleon Bonfire), 1996 (Gothenburg, riding Cameleon Bonfire), 1997 (s'Hertogenbosch, riding Cameleon Bonfire), 1999 (Dortmund, riding Gestion Bonfire), 2000 (s'Hertogenbosch, riding Gestion Bonfire), 2004 (London, riding Gestion Salinero), 2005 (Las Vegas, riding Keltec Salinero), and 2006 (Amsterdam, riding Keltec Salinero), 2008 (Brabant, riding IPS Salinero)
Van Grunsven is married to Dutch national equestrian coach Sjef Janssen, with whom she has two children.
Controversy
Anky, with assistance from her trainer and husband Sjef Janssen, is considered to be the originator of the controversial training method rollkurRollkur
Rollkur or hyperflexion of the horse's neck is a practice in equestrianism defined as "flexion of the horse's neck achieved through aggressive force" and is banned by the world governing body, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports...
. She has moved to distance herself with the method since the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) declared in February 2010 this method "is seen as an aggressive way of a deep moving horse. This is forbidden as well as any head-neck position which is obtained in an aggressive way."
In a lawsuit announced on the 24th of August 2010, Anky claims she has been defamed by journalist Astrid Appels on the website eurodressage.com. A release posted on that website announcing the lawsuit reports that "according to Anky images of her horses can not be connected to the controversial rollkur training method." The lawsuit is scheduled to begin September 8, 2010 in Hertogenbosch.
See also
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists in one event
- List of athletes with the most appearances at Olympic Games