HONG KONG (AFP) — Veteran Olympic champion Mark Todd came out of retirement at dawn on Saturday when he became the first rider to compete in the equestrian events being held in Hong Kong.
At 6.30 am (2230 GMT) Todd, 52, rode his grey gelding Gandalf into the dressage arena at Shatin for the first stage of the three-day eventing competition.
"I didn't expect to be number one, it was just the luck of the draw," Todd said.
"I'm used as cannon fodder. They said send the old bugger out there first and see what happens."
He scored 49.40 penalties -- three judges take points away for mistakes, and their penalties are averaged -- putting him in the middle of the field in the first round.
Todd said he could not have hoped for a better performance from his 10-year-old horse, adding: "There were no obvious mistakes."
It seemed a fitting start for the equestrian events, after his electrifying announcement only a few months ago that he would return to elite competition after eight years out of the saddle.
Todd won individual eventing gold medals in Los Angeles in 1984 and Seoul in 1988, and retired after claiming individual bronze in Sydney in 2000.
He was named "Rider of the Twentieth Century" by the International Equestrian Federation.
His return to Olympic riding reportedly followed a few glasses of wine at a dinner party early.
"Until February I hadn't really jumped a fence for eight years. I'm not where I was eight years ago but hopefully I'm good enough," he said.
"Eight years has slipped by very quickly and it has been a little hard to get back into gear. But it's great to be back."
Todd, like many riders and vets here, expressed concern about the heat and humidity.
The Aug 9-21 equestrian events -- dressage, jumping and three-day eventing whigh includes a gruelling cross-country course -- are being held here because Beijing could not guarantee a disease free environment for the horses.
The events are being staggered across the day, with sessions early in the morning and late at night, ostensibly to beat the heat.
Todd, speaking to reporters as he streamed with perspiration, said even at dawn he was feeling the heat, and expected the cross-country from Monday to be a "physical and mental" challenge for both riders and horses.
A total of 71 riders in 24 teams are scheduled to compete in the three-day eventing. Two horses were withdrawn Friday -- one each from Chile and Brazil -- after failing a veterinary inspection.
The Australians are considered main medal contenders, with the husband-and-wife duo of Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks leading the charge.
Britain, along with France and the United States who also won medals in Athens in 2004, is also viewed as a strong medal chance.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
