Chinese equestrian star Alex Hua Tian is set to make his fourth Olympic appearance at the upcoming Paris 2024 Games, aiming to build on his previous outings in Beijing, Rio, and Tokyo.
The 34-year-old rider, born in London to a Chinese father and British mother, first ventured into equestrian sports at the tender age of five. That early experience ignited a deep passion for the sport, leading him to make history at Beijing 2008 as China\u2019s first Olympic Eventing competitor.
His remarkable eighth-place finish at Rio 2016 remains the country\u2019s best performance in the discipline. Continuing his streak of excellence, Hua Tian clinched gold medals in both the individual and team events at last year\u2019s Hangzhou Asian Games.
For Paris 2024, Hua Tian has selected his trusted partner, Chocs, as his top choice among three qualified horses. Their seven-year bond is a testament to their synergy and mutual trust.
Eager to grace the renowned venue at the Palace of Versailles, Hua Tian feels right at home as he prepares to step onto the Olympic stage once again. “I think the venue will be iconic for being surrounded by all of the history of Versailles. And I think the audience will be very, very educated, and very passionate about equestrian,” he said.
“So that\u2019s something I\u2019m really looking forward to too. It\u2019s my fourth Olympics, and I started to feel that I\u2019d like to be quite competitive. But then you have to manage your own expectations. You\u2019re dealing with horses, so you can\u2019t have everything your own way most of the time,” he added.
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Chinese equestrian star Hua Tian set to make fourth Olympic appearance
cgtn.com
