Cal Poly alumna and U.S. Olympian Gina Miles won an individual silver medal in equestrian eventing on Tuesday night in Hong Kong.
Miles (a 1997 graduate in crop science) and her horse McKinlaigh finished with 56.1 penalty points, trailing Germany’s Hinrich Romeike, who rode Marius and finished at 54.2.
“I am so happy (McKinlaigh) has his day today,” Miles told The Sports Network. “There were bumps along the road to get this result. It has been a great journey.”
Miles, a 34-year-old Creston resident, rose from fifth after two unpenalized jumping rounds.
She told the Associated Press her diminutive stature compared to other riders gave McKinlaigh an edge in stamina.
“He’s a big horse and I’m a small rider and that gave him extra life,” she explained to the AP.
Britain’s Kristina Cook, on Miners Frolic, rose from seventh to claim the bronze at 57.4.
In team competition earlier Tuesday, Germany won gold, Australia silver and Britain bronze.
Miles is believed to be the second former Cal Poly student to ever medal in Olympic competition, following Karen Kraft. In pairs rowing, Kraft won silver at the Atlanta Games in 1996 and bronze at the Sydney Games in 2000.
Editor’s note: This story was posted at 2:19 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12, 2008.