But for many of these athletes the chance to compete at, and
the results from this single event every four years has much
wider and deeper repurcussions. For those athletes who have
given up so much to try to become one of Australia's Olympic
representatives the Games hold so much more than for the rest
of us.
Riders at Olympic competition level usually have owners,
sponsors, grooms, families and friends who have invested money,
time, faith, blood, sweat and tears in the campaign leading up
to the selection for the
Olympics.
For most of these
competitors this is
what they `do'. This
is their living, their
business, their lifestyle
and above all, their
passion. Because
you cannot `do' this
without the passion.
The longer the list
of talented and
experienced riders and
horses that Australia
produces, the harder
the job becomes for the
selectors.
Eventing
Australia's strongest
equestrian discipline,
eventing, has brought
home many medals
in past Olympics.
Bronze in 1968 and
1976, Gold in 1960,
1968, 1992, 1996 and
Sydney 2000, three in
a row, and Silver in
2008 at Hong Kong.
Andrew Hoy, competing at his seventh Olympics, was a late and
somewhat controversial inclusion in what appeared to be a very
strong team pool, with many of the riders based in Europe or the
UK. The selectors team consisted of Andrew Hoy on Rutherglen,
Chris Burton on Helstein Park Leilani, Clayton Fredericks on
Bendigo, Lucinda Fredericks on Flying Finish and the only
Australian based rider, Shane Rose on Taurus.
However, disaster struck, as it so easily can do, when Shane
Rose's horse, Taurus, was withdrawn due to injury just a few days
before the games, and replaced by Megan Jones and Kirby Park
Allofasudden.
So unfortunate for Shane, but what a great
opportunity for the 2008 Silver Medalist to compete
again. Sadly, this was not to be. Just two days from
the beginning of the games Kirby Park Allofasudden
was also withdrawn due to injury.
Replaced by Sam Griffiths on Happy Times the
team was still in contention for a medal.
Sitting in 2nd place after great dressage scores
from all our riders had everyone's hopes up for a
team Gold with Lucinda's equal 7th place leading
the way. Clayton's freaky fall cross country, where
Bendigo put a back hoof stud through his front boot
and it stuck, and Sam's cross country fall left the
team on somewhat shakier ground, with no room for
error. No one else could be eliminated or the team
was out.
Andrew, finished 13th with the best score for the
Andrew Hoy, during the cross country phase on
Rutherglen, riding at his 7th Olympics for Australia.
Behind the scenes at camp Australia. FEI photo