Word: mandiba
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...emotionally devastating, but O'Connor the athlete had to move on. She saddled another horse, a thoroughbred named Mandiba, to continue her Olympic quest. Then she suffered a more common form of sports heartbreak. On July 15, the U.S. Equestrian Federation named its five riders for the eventing team. Eventing is the triathlon of equestrian, a competition that combines dressage (the so-called "horse ballet" in which the rider guides the horse through a series of movements), cross-country riding and show jumping. O'Connor, a two-time Olympic medalist and one of the most decorated riders...
...show - older brothers who liked to torture little sis's dolls? At the Olympics, however, the pursuit of medals can be cruel. Equestrian officials want to win just as badly as those in the more high-profile sports. "It would have been a great story if Karen went on Mandiba and won a gold medal," says James Wolf, executive director for sport programs at U.S. Equestrian. "Believe me, I would have loved it. But at the end of the day, we can't play favorites. There's no room in the procedures for a sympathy vote...
...Connor likely would have made it with Teddy, the pony who became an equestrian star after he carried O'Connor to both individual and team eventing gold at the Pan American Games last year. But Mandiba isn't as seasoned as the other horses that made the Olympic team, and it cost O'Connor...
...Connor doesn't want pity to put her on the team. But she insists that even though the other U.S. horses are more impressive "on paper," she and Mandiba could have won in Hong Kong, where the equestrian events will be held. "I totally respect the decision," says O'Connor, from England, where she's training with the U.S. team (she and Mandiba are Olympic alternates). "Am I happy about it? Heck...
...Connor's dream to ride Teddy into the Olympics was derailed on May 28, during a routine stroll to the practice area on her farm in The Plains, Va. O'Connor was riding Mandiba, while her manager, Max Corcoran, was walking alongside Teddy. Something from behind a stone wall shook the animals. "Those horses were not startled," says Corcoran. "They were petrified." Teddy took off toward the barn. Corcoran grabbed his reins, but Teddy dragged her 10 feet along the ground before she had to let go. "I'm a big, strong girl who played college hockey," says Corcoran...
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