Stives, Karen E.
Equestrian sports
b. Nov. 3, 1950, Wellesley, MA
Stives in 1984 became the first U. S. woman to win an individual medal in Olympic equestrian competition, taking a silver medal on Ben Arthur in the three-day event. She was also a member of the gold medal team.
Riding last in the team competition with the U. S. holding a slight lead over Great Britain, Stives could have won an individual gold with a faultless ride. After successfully clearing the first ten of the twelve obstacles, her horse just nicked the fence on the triple jump, dropping her into second place. By clearing the twelfth jump cleanly, however, she gave the U. S. team the championship.
Stives was named U. S. Combined Training Association Rider of Year in 1981, 1987, and 1988.