Experience is gold in Tokyo Olympics equestrian squad selection

The Australian team for the Tokyo Olympics has been announced and the selectors have decided to go with experienced riders.

Mary Hanna becomes Australia’s oldest Olympian. She is pictured with her horse Calanta. Picture: Stephen Mowbray

Australian Olympic selectors have mostly opted for age and experience in the Tokyo equestrian teams.

Andrew Hoy, 62, will represent Australia at his eighth Olympic Games, extending his own record of seven as the most Olympic appearances by an Australian athlete, while Mary Hanna becomes the first woman to make six Australian Olympic Teams.

Hoy, plus Chris Burton and Shane Rose and the reserve Stuart Tinney have all previously ridden for Australia, winning medals in eventing. Mary Hanna, 66, extends the record she set in Rio as the oldest Australian Olympic competitor. Hanna will contest her sixth Games alongside first-time Olympians Simone Pearce and Kelly Layne competing in Dressage.

The showjumping team has not been announced as yet, subject to an appeal by a non-nominated athlete, with selections to be announced when the process is finalised.

After making his Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 1984, three-time Olympic gold medallist Hoy becomes the 13th athlete in Olympic history to make eight Games, joining only nine eight-time Olympians and three athletes who have competed at more.

The youngest team member, Simone Pearce, 29, based in Germany, who currently holds all three Australian Grand Prix dressage records, will make her Games debut and Kelly Layne, 46 who is based in the US, will also compete in her first Olympics.

Bendigo-born Simone describes her selection as a dream come true.

“So proud to have been selected to represent my country at the Olympic Games. Thank you to everyone who has supported me to get to this point. A huge thank you to my parents for always supporting me and encouraging me to chase my dreams.”

The equestrian competitions at Tokyo will be contested under a new format that puts more pressure on the team scores.

Until now, four riders competed with the best three scores counted. In Tokyo, only three will compete and all scores count, with no “drop score”.

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