Chinese equestrian Alex Hua Tian, at the age of 34, has competed in his fourth Summer Olympic Games in Paris. Having made his Olympic debut at the Beijing Games in 2008 when he was just 18, Hua Tian has demonstrated unwavering commitment to his sport over the years.
Starting strong in Paris, Hua Tian secured third place in the dressage event. However, a 15-point penalty in the cross-country phase impacted his overall standing, and he ultimately finished 23rd. Despite the setback, Hua Tian remained positive about his performance and especially praised his horse, Chocs.
In an interview with CGTN Sports Scene’s Greg Laffradi, Hua Tian expressed his admiration for Chocs: “I cannot say anything other than that Chocs was absolutely brilliant this week. He’s a phenomenally talented horse. I have a lot of faith in him, and we’ve had a seven-year partnership. We’ve saved him for those seven years for these games, and he was just brilliant. His dressage test was a real pleasure to be a part of.”
Reflecting on his Olympic journey, Hua Tian shared how the experience across four Games has bolstered his confidence. “I probably need a little bit of time to digest and understand what’s happened here,” he said. “In all honesty, these games have given me and hopefully my team a tremendous amount of confidence. We have produced a world-class horse, and he’s come in great condition despite all the challenges we’ve had with his fitness in the past. He’s performed at his total best. In my opinion, the only reason why he wasn’t in the top 10, if not better, was due to circumstances outside of our control.”
Equestrian sports, while unique and less accessible than more widespread sports like football or basketball, have been gaining popularity in China. Hua Tian hopes that the stories emerging from the 2024 Paris Games will inspire the next generation.
“I just hope the images from the sport, from Versailles, from Paris, will have a very positive, long-lasting legacy,” Hua Tian remarked. “I hope children and families around the world who are not involved with the sport are inspired not just by the winners but by the stories, the horses, and the backgrounds of each of the riders.”
Reference(s):
Chinese equestrian Alex Hua Tian hopes Paris Games inspires children
cgtn.com
