In Other Words

The Sunday Telegraph, September 2007: In a country where equestrian sports are almost unknown 17 year old Alex Hua Tian is tipped to become one of the heroes of next year’s games. Such is the excitement at his potential participation that CCTV, China’s state-run broadcaster is predicting a world-record audience. The young Etonian is poised to transform equestrian sports in China from being a minority pre-serve of the rich into a national obsession.

The Observer, March 2008: Stardom awaits a Sussex teenager when he competes in Beijing for the host nation’s equestrian team. An Etonschoolboy is to make history.

Sunday Times, March 2008: Although equestrianism is a minority sport in China press reports there have described Alex as a“force to be reckoned with” and claim he has the potential to be a “massive star”.

The Times/Matthew Pinsent, July 2008: At 18 years and 10 months, he will be the youngest equestrian rider at the Games and, with the appetite for the Olympics running wild in China, it is no surprise that he has been taken to the hearts of the Chinese media. Good looks, a leading role in a new sport for China and,of course, the Eton factor, made the papers there refer to him as “one in a billion”. But surely that distance affects his sense of belonging to his country? “I'm Chinese and I'm representing my country at the home Olympics. What's more important than that to a sportsman? It will be spine-tingling,” he said.

Daily Express , Aug 2008: Alex Hua Tian, 18, tall, handsome, marketable, has achieved Beckham-like status in his native land as the first Chinese Olympic equestrian.

Clare Balding （BBC-Olympic Live coverage）: The Chinese crowd really did pack in the grandstand. This was a very big crowd for a dressage session. And the man they really wanted to see was Alex Hua Tian.

Times, Aug 9 2008: Alex Hua Tian, 18, an Eton schoolboy and China’s first and only competitor in the Olympic three-day-event is ahead of the two Britons (Daisy Dick and William Fox-Pitt) on a score of 49.60 after an impressive performance on his Anglo-Arab Chico. Hua Tian……displayed his horsemanship when making a brilliant recovery from a sudden spook by Chico in the canter.

Mike Tucker （BBC-Olympic Live coverage on Cross-country day）：Such huge expectations on this young rider’s shoulders. The whole of China will be willing him on as indeed the whole of Britain. (Coming to the water jump 5-6): This is the first big test for him. We will see what it is all about now. Lovely jump in. Well dare I say it, he was better than his mentor there! That augurs well for the rest of the course. Such a stylish ride through that water…… Well we reckon we have some talented young riders in Great Britain but this young man could be as good as any of them. He is away over 7 and the cheers that go up around. …     Oh no. Alex Hua Tian on the ground.  A huge disappointment. The young man from China with so many friends around the world has to walk off the course. That is it I am afraid for young Alex Hua Tian. What a disappointment. But it’s what the game is all about though. He’ll be back.

Horse and Hound: There was universal sadness when (he) fell off across country…… but again he showed great maturity. “It was my fault……”.

China Central Televison - Ten Most Memorable Moment from 2008 Olympics shown during the live broadcast of the Closing Ceremony: We can say that every stride he took and every fence he cleared was a bonus. We can also say: See you in London 2012!