Aussie eventer Chris Burton blogs on his road to Rio 2016
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British based eventer Chris Burton is among several athletes who are blogging about their road to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro for the Australian Olympic Team.
In his first offering, Burton tells how he started riding at the age of three, and about his first big break in the sport, winning the Australian International Three-Day-Event in 2008 on Newsprint.
Since the 2012 Olympics in London, Burton has had some memorable moments, including winning the Aachen CIC3* for two successive years on Holstein Park Leilani, the Hartpury CIC3* on Tempranillo, and the Adelaide International CCI4* on TS Jamaimo.
Burton says he has several horses in the running for Olympic selection, including TS Jamaimo, Graf Liberty and Tempranillio, “but I have some young horses too that I won’t rule out”.
He was on the team that qualified Australia for Rio, at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in France. “Now we’ve got our spot secured, I’m focused on making sure I’m there with the team.”
But eventing aside, he says this year’s highlight will be returning to Australia in December to marry his fiancé, Bek Thompson.
• Australia has just launched a new Olympic logo in order for its “identity and heritage to resonate in a stronger way with future generations”, with an eye on the direction of International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach’s Agenda 2020.
Australia’s national colours, inspired by the wattle, has been intensified and energised. The design salutes its native animals and the star represents the country’s states and territories – from coast to coast, top to bottom.
“Change was also necessary as we needed to adhere to new guidelines mandated by the IOC. We had to rationalise, consolidate and simplify,” the Australian Olympic Committee said.