Chinanews.com client, Beijing, September 12th. Title: Chinese rider Huatian: Equestrian sports are not exclusive to the elite
Reporter Xing Rui Zeng Xiaowei
Speaking of Chinese equestrian athlete Hua Tian, he is always affixed with various enviable labels.
Born in London, England, he is a handsome Chinese-British mixed race; he is a recognized genius in the field of equestrianism; he is the first Chinese knight to officially appear in the history of the Olympic Games, and he has also witnessed and promoted the development of equestrian sports in China... …
In Beijing in 2008, Hua Tian, who had just turned 18, chose to put on the Chinese jersey to play.
He has said more than once that he is proud to represent China in the competition.
Although the initial experience of the Olympics ended in failure with Huatian's fall, in the past 13 years, Huatian has been working hard to fill the gaps in Chinese equestrianism.
In Rio in 2016, Huatian set the record for a Chinese athlete to enter the finals in an Olympic equestrian competition for the first time. During the Tokyo Olympics, he helped the Chinese equestrian team qualify for the first Olympic team competition. At the age of 31, he stood for the third time. Go to the Olympic Games.
Data map: On August 8, 2016, the equestrian event of the Rio Olympic Games launched a triathlon cross-country contest, and Chinese athlete Huatian appeared.
In a recent dialogue with Sino-Singapore Sports, Huatian told about his three Olympic journeys on behalf of China, his enthusiasm for equestrian sports, and the current development of equestrian sports in China.
Although equestrianism is regarded as a "niche", in his opinion, this sport is not the exclusive domain of the elite.
A trip to Tokyo: a new imprint, a new beginning
Sino-Singapore Sports: The Tokyo Olympics is your third time representing China to participate in the Olympics. With the efforts of you and your teammates, the Chinese Equestrian Team won the 9th place in the team competition, and you personally won the 25th. How to evaluate this Olympic journey?
Huatian: I feel that everything I experienced in Tokyo felt like riding a roller coaster.
Because of the epidemic, the Tokyo Olympics were postponed for one year, and it was uncertain whether the Olympics could be held at that time.
After arriving in Tokyo, you must abide by strict epidemic prevention rules; you must also transport horses to participate in the competition... These are the problems faced by this Olympic trip.
But this is the first time I participated in the Olympics with my teammates.
This is an incredible honor and an important milestone in the development of equestrian sports in China.
My personal performance slowly slipped from third place on the first day to 25th.
This process actually gave me confidence: I am capable of winning medals.
But the final result also shows that I still need to make more efforts.
Sino-Singapore Sports: Before the Tokyo Olympics, you released the slogan "New Imprint" for the competition. What is the special meaning of this?
Huatian: This is jointly proposed by my team and I, and this slogan can resonate with us.
For me personally, the Tokyo Olympics is a new beginning, and my third Olympic journey can finally compete with the team. This is obviously an extraordinary Olympic experience.
I am both in Beijing and Rio. At that time, I saw players from other countries take the shuttle bus arranged by the Olympic Organizing Committee for the athletes to go to training and stables together.
Although I will not feel lonely, I still wonder if I missed a very important part of the Olympic Games.
This time, we finally have a more complete Olympic experience.
Data map: In Rio 2016, Huatian ranked eighth in the finals of individual equestrian triathlons. This is the best place that Chinese equestrian has achieved in the Olympics.
Zhongxin Sports: In the jumping competition held on August 2, you and your partner "Tang" made a mistake when crossing the last obstacle. When you were interviewed after the game, you blamed yourself. Looking back on the game that day, would you still have such emotions?
Hua Tian: Looking back at the game video, I don't think I made a big mistake, it was just a very small mistake.
But for my Ma "Tang", this is a very difficult problem.
Don is very bad at obstacle courses, and I left too much room when I crossed the last obstacle.
The reason I feel frustrated and disappointed is that it takes a lot of effort for a horse to qualify for the Olympics.
I was very proud of Don's performance that week, but the mistake I made in the end was really unacceptable.
However, if I can learn from it, I will also forgive myself.
And fortunately, I did not fall off the horse.
Because falling will not only affect your own performance, but more importantly, it will also affect the team's performance.
If that were the case, there would be no way for me to forgive myself.
The 18-year-old "Mature Ceremony": the brightest moment of life
Sino-Singapore Sports: The Beijing Olympics is your first time representing China in the competition. Do you remember your mood at that time?
Hua Tian: 2008 has been a long time ago.
It's crazy to say, but I think I'm still 18 years old.
At the age of 18, you will feel that you are no longer young when you grow up.
You can make many decisions yourself.
In that year, I did a lot of things on my own.
But thinking about it now, I was still too young and naive at that time.
The Olympic Games made me feel both magical and realistic.
I was very excited to represent China in the Olympic Games for the first time, but my performance in cross-country competitions was disappointing.
I will never forget the Beijing Olympics, it was the most extraordinary moment in my life.
I have learned a lot from this. If I can't find a balance between excitement and disappointment, I won't be able to be where I am today.
Data map: On August 9, 2016, in the final of the Rio Olympic equestrian individual triathlon venue, Chinese player Huatian finally ranked eighth, making history.
China-Singapore Sports: Rio Olympics, you won the eighth place. Before entering the competition, do you have any predictions about your results?
Hua Tian: Five years have passed since the Rio Olympics.
Tang was only 9 years old that year.
As one of the youngest horses at the time, we know he was very talented.
But Tang is also easily affected by the surrounding environment.
When it comes to the real game, under that atmosphere and pressure, we are all a little nervous.
But Tang did a great job. It seems to like that kind of Olympic experience. It can also integrate itself into the game and enjoy the game very much.
Before Rio, none of us expected to achieve such results.
Because Tang is still very young and has never participated in the Olympic Games.
This is indeed a fantastic experience.
After the dressage competition, I ranked 12th, and then the ranking slowly climbed.
I thought it would be great to be in the top 20, but in the end I made it to the top ten, which gave me a lot of confidence.
Sino-Singapore Sports: From going to the Olympics alone to leading the Chinese equestrian team in the Olympics, what kind of spirit supports you along the way?
Huatian: I like equestrian sport very much, I love my horse, and I also love the Olympics.
I think these are the three driving forces that have supported me to the present.
I really like the competitive side of equestrian sports. I like competitions, but at the same time I am obsessed with the friendship between horses and horses, and the cooperation between us... I love everything in this sport.
Of course, this is also inseparable from the support of family, girlfriend and team.
These people around me will make me motivated and make me feel the warmth from them.
Data map: Huatian at the Rio Olympics.
Spreading Equestrian Culture: Chinese Mythology Brings Inspiration
Zhongxin Sports: You often give your horses some very Chinese names, such as Monkey King, Hua Mulan, Shan Yu, Temujin, Lingxiwang... Why do you like to give horses this type of name?
Hua Tian: This is actually my mother's idea.
Before the Beijing Olympics, the horse I grew up with was born in the Year of the Monkey and was very naughty and active.
And when I was young, I really liked Chinese fairy tales.
When participating in the Olympics, we hope that more people will know the sport.
In fact, every horse has a different personality.
We use characters from history or stories to name them.
Until now, this naming tradition has continued between me and my horse owner.
Sino-Singapore Sports: What do you think of the development of equestrian sports in China in recent years?
Hua Tian: The development of this sport has achieved great success in China.
In Europe and other places, this equestrian culture will undergo hundreds of years of evolution and accumulation.
But in China, these changes will happen within a few years or decades.
Because of the epidemic, I have not returned to China for 18 months.
Every time I went back, I could feel that the abilities of Chinese knights, the quality of horses, and the management and care of horses were improving at a particularly rapid rate.
Everyone involved in this sport knows what the core of this sport is.
That's about "chivalry", about the relationship between man and horse.
This sport is not exclusive to the elite group.
For me, I hope that in the future, equestrian sports will not only develop on a small scale, but also allow more Chinese people to have access to this sport.
Data map: On December 8, 2016, the "Influencing China" 2016 Person of the Year Award Ceremony hosted by China News Weekly was held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. Huatian was awarded the Sports Person of the Year award.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Liu Guanguan
Loose public opinion environment: my teammates and I can be ourselves
Sino-Singapore Sports: From 2008 to 2021, has there been any change in the Chinese athletes in your eyes?
Hua Tian: I don't think it is appropriate for me to make such a judgment.
Because I spend most of my time in the UK, I don't meet too many Chinese athletes.
I only know my teammates very well, and they are all very nice.
Every time I am in the Olympics, I meet athletes from other sports of the Chinese delegation.
This time, I am very happy to be able to participate in the opening ceremony. The Chinese golf team, water polo team, hockey, women's volleyball team and other teams will also participate in the opening ceremony with the equestrian team.
I saw everyone looked relaxed.
I think now, the audience may pay more attention to the personality of the athlete.
Unlike the past, our audience may pay too much attention to the final result.
Although the results of the competition are also very important now, everyone is also starting to pay attention to the stories behind the athletes, their personalities, and so on.
I think this is a very healthy development, and it has given me and my teammates the confidence to be ourselves in Tokyo.
Sino-Singapore Sports: You grew up in the UK and you usually speak English. How do you communicate with everyone in the team?
Huatian: My friend and teammate Liang Ruiji will also give me a lot of help in communication. Our team generally trains in Europe, so we can also speak English. However, I will also try to speak some Chinese. Our leader, Hu Biao, only speaks Chinese, which also forced me to speak Chinese to him. If there are important things, I will trouble my friends for help. (over)