Trial and error for Alex’s Olympic odyssey

TRYON, North Carolina — Chinese rider Alex Hua Tian has big dreams for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics — and he’s not afraid to fail along the way to achieve them.

The size of Hua’s task came into sharp focus at last week’s World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina, where he and his 9-year-old horse, Boris, wound up last in the dressage competition before eventually finishing 45th out of the 84-strong field.

Despite the result, though, Hua drew plenty of positives from the experience.

“We brought him (Boris) here and just wanted to survive the competition. He made a lot of mistakes in dressage and we knew that would happen,” said Hua, who became China’s first ever equestrian Olympian at the 2008 Beijing Games.

“But he is such a warrior in the cross-country and such a fighter in the show jumping. Overall I’m delighted with him. He’s been tough and understood what he’s doing.

“We are here to build his experience and build his confidence. We questioned whether it was the right thing to bring him. I am so glad that we did. The competition gave us the confidence that he can do it.”

At the Asian Games in Indonesia last month, Hua claimed a bronze medal on board another 9-year-old, Spike.

Hua is now working with five horses and plans to conincluding Alex Hua Tian, tinue to experiment with his mounts before making a final decision on which one to ride in Tokyo.

“These horses are young and inexperienced but have so much potential for Tokyo. We are trying to get them used to flying, the experience and the exposure. They learned a lot and we learned a lot. And after two years, they will be ready,” Hua said.

London-born Hua, whose father is Chinese and mother English, finished eighth at the Rio Games as China’s sole competitor.

Next time out he expects to have some teammates by his side.

“I’m very proud to be a pioneer in the sport for China, and I am really excited that we have some very talented riders coming through, Liang some others too.

“Hopefully next year we will see them competing in Europe and pursuing Olympic qualification for Tokyo. To me it’s really an exciting thing.”

At the 2008 Beijing Games, the then 18-year-old Hua became the youngest rider to compete in the Olympics’ equestrian competition.

“It’s crazy, it’s been ten years. I can’t believe it. I still remember myself at 18 years old and not very mature. The ten years have gone by very quickly.

“I have learned a lot with help from so many people, but there’s still so much more I need to learn and so much more I need to develop. It’s exciting and nice to have a long road in front of you.” Ruiji and

These horses are young and inexperienced but have so much potential for Tokyo... in two years they will be ready.” on his preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics