Stockholm 1956

Olympic Equestrian Games Stockholm 1956 Medals

Front: Ancient Greek horseman to left within Swedish legend. " XVI Olympiadens Ryttartavlingar 1956 Stockholm."

Back: Torch superimposed over Olympic rings within French legend. "Jeux Olympiques" across the top and along the bottom, "Citius, Altius, Fortius." Engraved in background: "Olympia" in stylized Greek text.

Designer: John Sjösvard & Vasos Falireas (reverse design)
Mint: Lagerstroms Fabrinks AB, Mjolby, Sweden

Halla, ridden by Hans Günter Winkler of Germany won two gold medals in the equestrian events - individual and team show jumping. Halla became a legend when Winkler, in tremendous pain after tearing a groin muscle in the first round, rode her to a flawless final round. Halla, is the only horse to win three Olympic gold medals, winning her final gold in Rome 1960.

Winkler competed in six Olympic Games ending in 1976 with seven medals (five golds, one silver, one bronze) in a career that began with Halla in 1956.

The ancient horse and rider was the offiical emblem of the Stockholm Equestrian Games and was inspired by a sculptire within the Parthenon.

After the Summer Games were awarded to Melbourne, the International Olympic Committee learned that Australian quarantine laws required a six-month quarantine period for horses entering the country. Hence, it was decided to conduct separate Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden, prior to the actual Summer Games since Melbourne is the southern hemisphere and Stockholm is in the northern hemisphere.