KEY POINTS:
Olympic eyes have all been on equestrian great Mark Todd since he arrived in Hong Kong, though he admits his eyes were not always glued on the Olympics.
Eight months ago, Todd made a late decision to come out of retirement once he found a suitable three-day eventing
horse in Gandalf.
Even though he was the International Equestrian Federation's Rider of the 20th Century, Todd still had to qualify to go to the Games, entailing a trek to prove himself in Europe.
"I did not go with a burning desire to be at the Olympics again," he told the Olympic News Service.
"It was a good excuse to go back to England again and see old friends. It was a journey on all sorts of levels," he said.
Journalists have pounced on Todd, 52, since he arrived in Hong Kong, proving that though he had been gone from the sport since 2000, he was never forgotten.
Even though Todd won the individual gold in 1984 and 1988, and a bronze in 2000, he was not automatic selection for Beijing, something he had mixed feelings about.
"But at the end of the day this was all right because at least nobody can say I had special treatment," he said.
"I was relieved that everything went so well. When I set a plan I want to get there, I am quite competitive."
He found his final qualifying competition at Saumur in France nerve-wracking, as his Olympic hopes depended on it.
"Saumur was like being at the Olympics already. I thought `what if I jump the wrong fence, ride outside the flags?' - all sorts of things."
He did not expect Gandalf to be in the lead after the dressage, which starts on Saturday.
While Gandalf could do a solid test, his best was probably a year away. He had an excellent temperament, Todd said.
"Nothing bothers him, as long as he can eat and sleep enough," he said.
"There are not many horses where we could have done what we did with him - all these travels from the North to the South Island, to England, to France and now the flight to Hong Kong - and still have some horse left."
Todd and teammate Andrew Nicholson will become New Zealand's first six-time Olympians at Beijing.
The dressage phase will be held over two days. The cross-country will be held on Monday with the show jumping phase the following day.
- NZPA
