On the bench

Being picked as the "fourth man" to support a three-man Olympic team, ready to step in at any moment in the competition, requires a resilient and unflinchingly sportsmanlike mindset.

- Lucy Elder

FEW situations could command such a fine balance of excitement and disappointment as the alternate spot at an Olympics. Paris will be the second Games featuring teams of three in the equestrian disciplines. All scores now count and the travelling alternate combination can be called upon throughout the Games to sub in for one of their compatriots.

It’s a unique situation, requiring the utmost sportsmanlike behaviour from riders and their entire support team. Getting it right is critical for the impact on the wider team and individual performance. Yet when someone has strived so hard and got so close – knowing that their dream of competing will only be at the cost of one of their team-mates – what does it take to master the mindset, and why is it so important to do so?

“THE format of having three active combinations is here to stay, so we have to look at the positives not the negatives,” says British Equestrian technical director and eventing performance manager Dickie Waygood.

“Whichever way you look at it, whether that’s the athlete, the groom, owners and connections, it’s an awkward place to be in, because part of their mindset will be that they want the team to do really well. And then the other part is they will want to be part of that team.

“It’s a very tough place to be in, especially when we know that every waking hour and every dream for most of those athletes is winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games.”