Alex Hua Tian

This Chinese eventer not only has two horses qualified for Tokyo, but is also steadfast in his aim to build the sport’s profile in China and globally, says Lucy Elder

- Lucy Elder

IT’S 13 years since Alex Hua Tian went to his first Olympics, riding as an individual for China, as the youngest-ever eventer to compete at the Games.

Thirteen years on, returning as part of a team, he will still likely be among the youngest. But this is no longer the 18-year-old who took a year out of school. After two Olympics, including a top-10 finish in Rio, multiple World Championships and medal-winning Asian Games performances, Alex heads to Tokyo as part of a nation whose strength in equestrian sport is growing.

“The whole dynamic is totally different,” says Alex, 31, looking ahead to riding as part of an Olympic team for the first time.

“I really think China has the opportunity to be one of the major forces in equestrian sport in the future. To have two teams, with the showjumpers qualified as well, is such an important milestone.

“In many ways, although I represent China, I’ve been based abroad with my riding since I was six, so my riding and my sport doesn’t necessarily represent Chinese equestrianism itself. Whereas my team-mates, yes their horses are in Europe for the Olympic qualification process, but these guys are all products of the Chinese equestrian system.

“Of course we are going to lack huge amounts of experience as a team in comparison to the major equestrian nations, but if you look at the Japanese team, two Olympic cycles ago they crashed out of London, and now they are going into an Olympic Games as potential medal contenders having finished fourth at the World Championships.”