Comments from the Jumper Riders

Jos Lansink of Belgium rides Cumano photo ©Athens2004

Ian MILLAR (CAN)
On his eighth participation in Olympic Games
''I believe that the experience I have gained all these years has helped me a lot. I don't feel any pressure. I will have to wait until the end of the Games to see if these are the best Games for me ever. Sydney was definetely my highlight. The horse I had there had never really performed at that level before, but he did great and we came very close''.
 
On if the younger athletes ask him for advice
''No. Some just come and ask me if what they have heard about my age is true and when I tell them that it is they are shocked''.
 
Eric NAVET (FRA)
On his performance
''I didn't feel pressure at all. I am satisfied with my performance. It is much easier when you are in the arena. The ground is excellent and it gives a wonderful feeling''.
 
Alvaro MIRANDA NETO (BRA)
On his team's chances
''We have a big chance for a medal. We won the bronze in Atlanta and in Sydney. We are stronger now and we will fight for the bronze".
 
On his expectations
''My concern now is to be among the first 25 riders and once you are there you are focused on your horse and yourself".
 
On the course
''The course is very good. Not so big. I think that the course designer is very clever because he created a very technical course that is not killing the horses. It is preparing them for the bigger classes''.
 
Christian AHLMANN (GER)
On his performance
''I had one rail down but I think I made my best. We will have to see what we will do in the team event. Obviously we are the defending Olympic champions and we feel the pressure upon us but I think that it is possible to retain the title''.
 
On the CAS decision against the Eventing rider Bettina HOY (GER)
 ''I cannot understand it. They made a decision and two days later they took it back. This is damaging for our sport. I think that the Germans proved that they were the best team in the competition''.
 
Ludger BEERBAUM (GER)
On his performance
''My horse did well but he was stressed. I think that this is not a key point for the competition. Even with 8 faults you can sleep easily''.
 
Gerco SCHRODER (NED)
 
On his horse
''My horse lost a shoe in the turn so it was difficult to control him. Generally he jumped really good''.
 
On his team
''It is hard to say. There are many good teams involved but we will try to do our best''.
 
Otto BECKER (GER)
On his performance
''So far everything went well. The course is tough and has spooky fences because the one comes after the other very quick and the horse has no time to get prepared. Today we didn't try to be in time. It didn't interest us''.
 

Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil rides Baloubet du Rouet photo ©Athens2004

Cian O'CONNOR (IRL)
On his performance
''I am delighted. My horse jumped great. He went over the time limit but this is not a problem. I don't think that many people will finish on time today anyway''.
 
On the course
''The fences are difficult. They are pretty technical and quite light so there are no many clear rounds. Today is not the real round".
 
On the Irish Team
"I think we can fight for a medal. I hope I gave my teammates a boost with my performance".

Peter WYLDE (USA)
On his performance
''I admit I am overwhelmed. My parents and my brother are here. When I went inside the ring I had to breath hard and I felt that my eyes went wet. I have an incredible horse. She gives you great confidence''.
 
On his team
''I know that behind me there are three fantastic riders and that is a comforting feeling''.
 
On the course
''In the double of oxers I did something that bothers me. I pushed my horse too much and I thought that it would come a mistake but fortunately it did'nt".
 
On today's round and the favourites
''The first round was not difficult but I am sure that the pressure is going to turn up.  We have some big tests to follow. The Germans and the Americans have four medal contender riders and one of the team is not going to get the gold. In this round time is the deciding factor''.
 
Rodrigo PESSOA (BRA)
On his performance
''I am satisfied. My horse did really well. I made a mistake in the oxer but generally I am happy. The course is not very demanding. I wouldn't say that it is easy but it is a nice start. It puts the horses in a state of preparing for the things to come''.
 
On his team 
''I want to be realistic. We will fight for the third place. I know that the Germans and the USA will be ahead because they have better riders and horses''.
 
On the Individual 
''For me the point is to get to the final. You can never be sure of course. It is a gamble''.
 
Chris KAPPLER (USA)
On his performance
''Today it was a warm up for us. The other day we practised at night and today I realised it was very difficult in the morning because some zones are in the shadow and some are under extreme sunlight''.
 
On the fact that the Jumping final takes place during the night
''That was an early concern for us. We knew it was going to happen like that so most of the riders practiced at night. In America many big events happen under the lights. I love competing at night so I think that I 'll do well''.
 
on his team
''it is the first olympic Games for all of us. I know that the other three riders of our team are very good so if I don't do well they are going to save me. maybe at the end we'll end up with something good. perhaps a medal''.
 
Robert SMITH (GBR)
On his performance
"The jumping was very good. The heat didn't affect my horse and the facilities here are excellent. It is a tricky course and you have to be very careful but I expected it to be like that.The going is firm''.

Kamal BAHAMBAN (KSA) - team member
On his performance
"I am pretty satisfied. It is a very big course and the main problem is to complete within the time. Especially the double of oxers towards the end is very challenging. But we are at the Olympic Games and competitions must be testing".
 
On how they compare here to Sydney
"In Sydney we did not expect anything and we ended up with an Individual medal. Anything can happen. Here our goal is to qualify for the final".
 
On the heat
"Of course today it is very hot and surely it had an impact on the horse, especially towards the end of the course".
 
Danae TSATSOU (GRE) - team member
On her perfomance with ROBLE Z
"I am very pleased, very happy. Today it was the easy part of our competition. From now on we will see what happens next. My horse is a very good jumper and he can do much better in the following days. The rail I knocked down was entirely due to my fault, because I went too close and it was too late to fix it".
 
Ramzy AL DUHAMI (KSA) - team member
On his perfomance with FALL KHAEER
"This is not an easy course, it has got some difficult combinations. I am pleased with the way my horse dealt with the crowd cheering him on. He did a good job today and looks good for the next days of competition. The Saudi Arabian riders are not very experienced, this is why we are here, to compete with the best and gain experience for future competitions".
 
Nick SKELTON (GBR) - Individual
On his perfomance with ARKO III
 
"I am quite satisfied with our perfomance. He jumped very well even in the big fences. I have worked him hard here, we got used to the heat, so warm conditions cause no problems to us. We are competing in an Olympic Games course, not an easy one, but a fair one".
 
On the absense of a British team in Jumping
"It is a pity we haven't got a team here. Two great horses are competing, though. Roles change, so we will see what the future will bring us".

Hannah MYTILINAIOY (GRE)
On her perfomance
"I am satisfied, the mistakes I made were all my fault, because I got distracted at one point. That is the reason why I lost my line between fence number 6 and 7".
 
On her horse SANTANA
"I bought this horse recently and he is not used to jump such big fences. If I had had him earlier he would have been trained a lot more for this competition".
 
On the team
"After what Tsatsou and Petris have accomplished, I believe that we will qualify for the Nations Cup. Maybe we won't win a medal, but a good placing is possible for out team.
 
Luciana DINIZ - KNIPPLING (BRA)
On her perfomance with MARIACHI
"I am pleased, the course is fairly built. Today it was not important for the riders to perform at their best. It was sort of a warm up competition for the next days to come, so that we know where we are and what we have to deal with".
 
On her team 
"There is a team spirit that bonds us together. We are all relatively young and we are here to get a good place, to finish as higher as we possibly can".
 
Dirk DEMEERSMAN (BEL)
On his perfomance with CLINTON
"I knocked three rails down, but nevertheless I believe I did well. The course has a good feeling in it and it is a course of good class".
 
On his team
"I hope to do well on Tuesday in order to contribute as much as I can to a good results for my team".
 
Antonis PETRIS (GRE)
On his perfomance
"I made a clear round and I am pleased for that. The course is not very difficult or too technical. When I passed the eighth fence and tried to turn and jump the next one, I realized that the most difficult part was over and felt relaxed afterwards".

On the team
"Difficult days are ahead of us, but we are all happy to take part in the Athens Games for the first time in our careers".

Ludo PHILIPPAERTS (BEL)
On his perfomance with PARCO
"I had a nice round today. It felt very good and my horse wasn't bothered by the heat much. He is in great condition and he's jumping very well. I managed to clear the fences inside the time limit and I didn't put in a lot of effort. I rode normally and the only thing I had in mind today was to try and make my horse go fast and that is what he did. I believe that everything will turn all right from now on".
 
On his expectations
"The objective for me is to go as far as possible. Out team has a good chance for Tuesday, but we will know later on".
 
Thomas VELIN (DEN)
On his perfomance with CARNUTE
"I am quite satisfied. I tried not to think that we are in the Olympic Games, I only tried to focus solely on riding. The ground was very good and the course wasn't as big as I thought it would be. Todays' perfomance is a nice way to get started in the Jumping competition".
 
Eugenie ANGOT (FRA)
On the heat
"It is a little bit too hot today. I believe that the heat will be a parametre and that is something we have to take in great consideration. Sometimes I felt that I had to cover my eyes with my hand, because the sun was burning me".
 
On her perfomance with CIGALE DU TAILLIS
"I love this course very much. I think that my mare jumped very strong today, she was wonderful. We didn't feel any pressure, I got my horse loose and didn't try to take 100% out of her".
 
Beezie MADDEN (USA)
On her team
"The gold medal will be decided on who's better day is it, talents are equal. The US riders have all cooperated very well between them. We have a great time together and I think that we have a good chance. We said before we come here with high expectations and we are on top form at the moment. We all have the same attitude and all of us have showed many times before that we can be be at the top".
 
On her participation in the Olympic Games for the first time
"It is an awesome feeling to participate in the Olympic Games. I am not nervous at all, actually it felt better in the arena than ever before. I was a spectator in previous Olympic Games, but this venue is phenomenal".