Riding high for Team China

Chinese prodigy Zhang You eyeing breakthrough performances at his first Olympic Games

With his Olympic debut less than a month away, Chinese rider Zhang You is raring to show the world his show jumping skills despite the pressure on his young shoulders.

"I'm looking forward to the Tokyo Olympics, after all this will be my first Games. I just hope this won't be the only time for me to compete," the 20-year-old said with a smile in an exclusive interview with China Daily on Thursday.

"Riders normally have a very long career. I hope to have chances to join more editions of the Olympics in the future. I feel really lucky to be able to go to Tokyo this year.

"Honestly speaking, I'm actually a little bit nervous. Due to the pandemic I didn't have too many competitions to participate in over the past year, and the training was not ideal."

Zhang You, the Chinese squad's youngest member, has been training in Belgium with teammates Li Zhenqiang, Li Yaofeng and Zhang Xingjia.

They will travel to Japan later this month, while the horses will begin their Olympic trip on July 27 following a seven-day quarantine in Germany.

"The veterans in my team are more experienced than me and they have competed with a lot more horses than I have," Zhang You said.

"They have ridden all kinds of horses throughout their careers. Different horses have different characters, and the veterans know how to handle them all.

"By competing in more events, I should attain more experience. And more experience, brings more confidence."

China's show jumpers sealed their Tokyo berth in 2019 with a second-place finish at a Group G qualifier in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands. Back then, Zhang was starting to show his potential on the international stage.

In May of that year, he became the youngest Chinese rider to compete on the Longines Global Champions Tour, at the elite circuit's Shanghai stop. Three months earlier, he ranked 13th in the 1.60m jumping competition at the Longines Masters in Hong Kong, the best result by a Chinese rider in that category at a CSI level-5 event.

"The year 2019 was really special and almost unbelievable for me. That year I turned pro and participated in many high-level events across the globe," said Zhang.

"I participated mostly in CSI level-2 or level-3 events. I barely competed in any level-4 events. But I was invited to level-5 events that year, and they were very challenging for me. I feel lucky that more and more high-level events are being staged in China now.

"Equestrian sport has gone through rapid development in China. I remember when I first started competing, there were very few quality events in China. There was probably an event once a year. But now, under normal circumstances at least, we would usually have several events each month in various cities around China. So, that means more opportunities for young riders."

Challenging times

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting postponement of the Tokyo Olympics, however, has massively altered the sport's global schedule.

Like most Olympians, that has brought unprecedented challenges for Zhang You.

Three years ago, he and his family moved to Belgian city Antwerp, allowing Zhang You to immerse himself in European equestrian culture. However, when his mother and younger brother returned to China, he found himself facing lockdown far from home on his own.

"During 2020, I only participated in one event, and since April I was unable to train due to the pandemic and the city in lockdown," Zhang You recalled.

"We were not allowed to leave our home, so I stayed indoors and studied show jumping videos, as well as preparing my university application.

"If not for the pandemic and the postponement of the Olympics, I would've been in university now. So I had to change my plans and have a gap year."

As a fearless 10-year-old, Zhang You instantly took to riding horses－as well as another sport which is not for the fainthearted.

"I actually played ice hockey when I was younger. I had my first experience on horseback with my ice hockey teammates," he told China Daily.

"After a few attempts, I fell in love with the sport. So for a period of time, I played ice hockey and rode horses at the same time.

"After around two years, I gradually realized I hadn't enough time to practice two sports and do my school work. So I picked equestrian over ice hockey.

"I was never afraid of horses even when I was really young. I was actually excited and enjoyed my time with the horses. I feel I really fit this sport."

Zhang You reckons it's that connection that gives him an edge over his competitors.

"I know some riders who have spent decades in the sport, but they can't tell the difference and recognize each horse," he said.

"I just need two weeks in a stable to remember and recognize all the horses. Even if there are 200 horses, I can tell the difference between two random ones. And I can sense their different personalities."