Olympic games 2008
China's Olympic riding hope is Eton schoolboyStardom awaits the
teenage horse jumper from Sus*** as he competes in Beijing for the
host nation
Caroline Davies and David Smith
The Observer,
Sunday May 4 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/s****t/2008/may/04/olympicgames2008.olympicgames2008
An Eton schoolboy is to make history by competing in this summer's
Beijing Olympics as China's newest s****ting hero - and he could battle
for gold against royal horsewoman Zara Phillips.
Alex Hua Tian, 18, who has a Chinese father and an English mother, has
qualified to become the first Chinese three-day eventer to compete on
the ultimate s****ting stage. His father, Hua Shan, said Alex was
unique in a country where equestrianism is a minority s****t. 'That is
why people call him the "one in 1.3 billion",' he told The Observer
from his home in Beijing. 'We're all absolutely thrilled and very
proud of him. He's a typical Etonian, a good all-rounder and one of
the best students they've got.'
In a year when China is craving s****ting heroes, there are hopes that
Alex could put equestrian s****ts on the map. CCTV, the country's
state-run broadcaster, is re****tedly predicting a world record
audience for the three-day event, which involves dressage, showjumping
and cross-country. The Chinese press have hailed him as 'a force to be
reckoned with' and 'a massive star'.
Alex was born in London, but has always remained a Chinese national.
He started riding at the age of four while living in Beijing and later
in Hong Kong. The family moved to Wilt****re and then to Horsham, West
Sus***. Since the age of 10 he has been trained by two of the world's
leading eventers, Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks, both of whom will be
competing against him in the Olympics.
Alex achieved five A grades in his AS-levels at Eton but, as the first
Chinese rider registered by the International Equestrian Federation,
has been allowed to take a year off studying to concentrate on his bid
for Olympic glory. He has ridden at the Chatsworth and Gatcombe horse
trials and become a regular on the eventing circuit with his horse,
Chance Bid. The effort paid off a week ago when he achieved the
Olympic qualifying standard at a competition in Bialy Bor, Poland.
Hua, 50, a property developer, recalled: 'His mother called me from
Poland and she was so excited she couldn't speak a complete sentence
and cried. We all had great confidence in him, but when it suddenly
happens, it's amazing, unbelievable. Afterwards he sounded very quiet
and very calm. He just said the horses have been so wonderful. It is
amazing that he is only 18, unique in the Olympics. He's a good
student and wants to go to Oxford.'
Hua Shan said Alex has warrior genes on both sides of his family,
including a grandfather who was a fighter pilot. But he said he did
not dare predict the Olympic result: 'I have no doubt that Alex has
the ability and will give his best performance. I won't say he has a
chance of winning because in the equestrian world nobody would say
that. It all depends on the horse.'
The Olympic eventing final will be held not in Beijing but Hong Kong,
where Alex spent much of his childhood learning to ride. His mother,
Sarah Noble, also 50, said: 'Eventing is new to China and hopefully
this will get more people interested and enthusiastic.'
Along with parental sup****t, Alex has benefited from £1.88m in
sponsor****p from Jiang Fengcan, a Chinese businessman. This has
enabled him to build a sup****t team including four seasoned grooms, a
physiotherapist, a physical trainer and a veterinarian.
Jiang said he was proud to back the youngster. 'I was a little bit
nervous before he qualified for the Olympics but now I am relieved,'
he told the China Daily. 'I have known Hua Tian for years and always
believed he would make history at the Olympics.'
Clayton Fredericks, a former world champion, said he was impressed by
Alex when he started coaching him as a boy. 'When he started with us
he was 10 years old, a normal kid who liked to play video games, watch
TV, ride horses and go fast. He is determined, a very capable rider
and has got some good horses. We've trained him a long time and it was
always a question of when, not if.'
The Fredericks will now be taking on their protege in the Games. 'He's
going to be competitive. The only thing we can't give him is years of
experience. He's got a chance like everyone. It would be nice if all
three of us make the podium.'
As the host nation, China was automatically allocated six berths in
equestrian events - four in jumping, one in dressage and another in
eventing. But Chinese riders need to satisfy the minimum standards at
specified events in order to qualify.
Cheng Qing, director of the Chinese Equestrian Association, told the
China Daily: 'We were very happy to hear the news but not that
surprised. Hua Tian is such a talented rider and has already shown
that he is capable of qualifying for the Olympics. All he needs now is
more match experience.'
Jeremy Michaels, the international director of Hartpury College, part
of the University of the West of England, has also helped Alex develop
as a rider. He said: 'China is a fantastic horse nation going back
thousands of years. He's the sole Chinese competing in eventing, which
is a fantastic achievement.'
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