‘I couldn't miss this opportunity'

Brazil’s 2004 Olympic champion Rodrigo Pessoa talks to Pippa Roome about giving up his Irish performance management role to return to the competitive fray and target Tokyo

- Pippa Roome

“I HATE it. I hate it. From day one, I hated it.”

Rodrigo Pessoa’s sudden intensity takes me by surprise. Until now, sitting chatting in the VIP area at the Palm Beach Masters in Florida, having just been third in a class, he has seemed a laid-back kind of guy.

But when I ask the Brazilian’s thoughts on the new Olympic format of three riders to a team, which will be used in Tokyo next year, I can see the passion which has made him one of the best riders in the world – world and Olympic champion, three-time winner of the World Cup Final and more.

“Our sport is not like any other. Things happen with horses. The drop score has proven over and over again that it’s the perfect format for a team competition,” he says.

“You’ll have drama in the new format, because if anything happens you’re out, but after four years, something happens to someone else [on your team] and there goes your Games. It’s much harder on selectors because there’s no margin for error.

“Maybe one weaker team will be lucky and get three mediocre scores [and claim a medal]. And because some German or American or Brit slips in a corner or stumbles, they’ll be out. I predict that we’ll have major upsets and it’ll just be a shame.”

Part of the reason for dropping teams to three was to bring in more nations from around the world, but after the well-documented issues with qualification for Tokyo, Rodrigo does not believe that was wise.