Germany’s Julia Krajewski made history at the Olympic Games in Tokyo on Monday when she became the first woman to win the individual eventing gold medal.

Leading the way into the top-25 medal-decider in Monday’s individual final, Krajewski only had 3.7 penalties in hand over Britain’s Tom McEwan in second place.

The 32-year-old kept her nerve under incredible pressure to produce a second clear round with her French-bred mare Amande De B’Neville (Oscar Des Fontaines x Elan De La Cour), just one second over the time to finish on a final score of 26.0 to clinch the title.

Speaking afterwards, Julia said: “For some time I thought the Olympics would happen without me, and that was fine.

“Then going to Saumur CCI4*L and winning there, and feeling that ‘Mandy’ really stepped up a level and could deliver something big, I thought ‘maybe I’ve got a little chance of going’ ... well, it worked!”

Great Britain’s Tom McEwen took the silver medal with another French-bred horse, Toledo de Kresker after a foot perfect clear first round and another clear, just one second over the time in their second round.

Australia’s eight-time Olympian Andrew Hoy (62) took the individual bronze medal with his 12-year-old chestnut gelding Vassily de Lassos.

Home town hero

It was almost a fairytale ending for Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto who was just over two penalties off a podium finish with Vinci De La Vigne. A brilliant clear jumping second round (with 0.4 time penalties) saw him finish on a final score of 31.9.

Tomoto, who is trained by British legend William Fox-Pitt, only started eventing five years ago with the Tokyo Games in mind.

Irish-bred

Oliver Townend’s Ballaghmor Class was the only Irish Sport Horse to finish in the top 10, the combination finished in fifth place behind Tomoto.

Ballaghmor Class was bred by the late Noel Hickey and although the Courage II x Kilderry Place gelding is officially listed as bred in Co Limerick, Noel’s daughter Carol is adamant her late father classed himself as a Clareman.