Swiss end 88-year wait for show jumping gold

LONDON - Steve Guerdat, riding Nino des Buissonnets, won the Olympic Games individual show jumping gold at Greenwich Park on Wednesday for Switzerland's first title in the event in 88 years.

Ireland's Cian O'Connor and Dutch rider Gerco Schroder faced a jump off to determine the silver and bronze medals after finishing tied with one time fault apiece.

Schroder took second place, posting a clear round with O'Connor finishing third after his mount, Blue Loyd 12, knocked a pole off the last fence.

The 30-year-old Guerdat, bronze team medallist in Beijing four years ago, took the title as the only rider to post two clear rounds.

This was the first time individual jumping gold had been won by a Swiss rider since the 1924 Paris Olympics.

Great Britain's hopes of winning gold for the first time were scuppered when Nick Skelton on Big Star picked up four faults to finish in a tie for fifth.

(AFP)