1 00:00:06,707 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,747 --> 00:00:12,067 Speaker 1: from News Talk ZEDB. 3 00:00:13,907 --> 00:00:15,987 Speaker 2: New Zealand and The Home Straight. 4 00:00:18,427 --> 00:00:19,147 Speaker 3: Keewis on. 5 00:00:23,667 --> 00:00:26,187 Speaker 1: Weekend Sports Road to Paris. 6 00:00:25,947 --> 00:00:31,307 Speaker 2: Twenty twenty four. Eleven past two. The Paris Olympics are 7 00:00:31,307 --> 00:00:35,387 Speaker 2: now just five weeks away, less than that actually, so 8 00:00:35,427 --> 00:00:38,747 Speaker 2: we continue our Road to Paris feature revisiting some of 9 00:00:38,747 --> 00:00:42,547 Speaker 2: our great Olympic moments from the past. Sir Mark Todd 10 00:00:42,747 --> 00:00:46,427 Speaker 2: is truly one of our Olympic greats. First chosen to 11 00:00:46,467 --> 00:00:50,387 Speaker 2: write Equestrian in the Boycott at Moscow Olympics in nineteen 12 00:00:50,467 --> 00:00:54,307 Speaker 2: eighty he went on to compete in seven Olympic Games 13 00:00:54,347 --> 00:00:58,267 Speaker 2: between nineteen eighty four and two thousand and sixteen. Only 14 00:00:58,387 --> 00:01:02,707 Speaker 2: Dame Lisa Carrington has won more Olympic medals than his five. 15 00:01:03,227 --> 00:01:06,747 Speaker 2: He won New Zealand's first ever Olympic equestrian medal in 16 00:01:06,827 --> 00:01:10,067 Speaker 2: nineteen eighty four and a gold won two in Los Angeles, 17 00:01:10,147 --> 00:01:13,347 Speaker 2: and then repeated the dos in Soul four years later. 18 00:01:13,267 --> 00:01:15,467 Speaker 3: And he's clear over that he can do what he likes. 19 00:01:15,507 --> 00:01:18,587 Speaker 3: With these last two. It really doesn't matter. It's Todd 20 00:01:18,667 --> 00:01:23,027 Speaker 3: for two two for time, Mark Tisma the first time 21 00:01:23,107 --> 00:01:26,747 Speaker 3: since nineteen thirty two that one horse and rider have 22 00:01:26,907 --> 00:01:29,747 Speaker 3: won the Olympic gold medal for the three day events 23 00:01:29,987 --> 00:01:32,547 Speaker 3: in two successive Olympic Games, and it was a key 24 00:01:32,547 --> 00:01:32,787 Speaker 3: with you. 25 00:01:32,787 --> 00:01:34,587 Speaker 2: Who doesn't he had back to bout gold medals for 26 00:01:35,187 --> 00:01:38,947 Speaker 2: Mark Todd. Then he also won individual bronze in Sydney 27 00:01:38,947 --> 00:01:41,587 Speaker 2: in two thousand and was part of bronze medal winning 28 00:01:41,587 --> 00:01:44,187 Speaker 2: New Zealand teams in nineteen eighty eight and again at 29 00:01:44,227 --> 00:01:48,107 Speaker 2: London in twenty twelve. Among the many accolades in an 30 00:01:48,107 --> 00:01:51,307 Speaker 2: incredible career, he was named Writer of the Century by 31 00:01:51,347 --> 00:01:55,867 Speaker 2: the International Equestrian Federation in two thousand and in twenty 32 00:01:55,987 --> 00:02:00,507 Speaker 2: thirteen he was knighted for services to equestrian sport. Sir 33 00:02:00,547 --> 00:02:02,667 Speaker 2: Mark Todd is with us. Great to get the chance 34 00:02:02,707 --> 00:02:04,867 Speaker 2: to chat to you, Sir Mark, thanks for taking our call. 35 00:02:05,387 --> 00:02:07,467 Speaker 2: How did it all be good for you? When did 36 00:02:07,507 --> 00:02:09,787 Speaker 2: you first get onto a horse? 37 00:02:11,107 --> 00:02:15,547 Speaker 4: Well, I mean I was one of those pony crazy kids. 38 00:02:15,587 --> 00:02:17,987 Speaker 4: I mean I don't I don't know where it came from. 39 00:02:18,027 --> 00:02:21,067 Speaker 4: My family was not into horses at all. The only 40 00:02:21,107 --> 00:02:23,907 Speaker 4: things my grandfather had a farm and he had he 41 00:02:23,987 --> 00:02:27,187 Speaker 4: had horses on it. But it's all I ever wanted 42 00:02:27,267 --> 00:02:30,307 Speaker 4: to do, and I suppose the first time I sat 43 00:02:30,347 --> 00:02:32,507 Speaker 4: on a horse that was probably about five or six. 44 00:02:33,307 --> 00:02:36,947 Speaker 2: When did you start taking it seriously, start thinking about 45 00:02:36,947 --> 00:02:38,987 Speaker 2: it as as something you could do at a at 46 00:02:39,027 --> 00:02:39,867 Speaker 2: an elite level. 47 00:02:44,067 --> 00:02:46,867 Speaker 4: I guess not till I was sort of in my 48 00:02:47,387 --> 00:02:50,347 Speaker 4: in my late teens, that you know, I was competing 49 00:02:50,387 --> 00:02:56,507 Speaker 4: in the local so I guess I had a reasonable 50 00:02:56,507 --> 00:03:02,107 Speaker 4: amount of success. And I've always read books and watch 51 00:03:02,827 --> 00:03:05,587 Speaker 4: things a going on overseas, and of course the Olympic 52 00:03:05,627 --> 00:03:11,467 Speaker 4: Games was always always something very special, and I guess 53 00:03:11,507 --> 00:03:14,387 Speaker 4: I started to aspire to to want to ride in 54 00:03:14,427 --> 00:03:18,027 Speaker 4: the Olympics, and it all sort of went from there. 55 00:03:18,027 --> 00:03:22,187 Speaker 4: And in nineteen seventy eight I went on my first 56 00:03:22,547 --> 00:03:26,267 Speaker 4: trip abroad to America to the World Championships were there, 57 00:03:27,067 --> 00:03:29,547 Speaker 4: and I guess it all went on from there. 58 00:03:29,947 --> 00:03:32,427 Speaker 2: And selection in the team for the Moscow Games in 59 00:03:32,507 --> 00:03:36,427 Speaker 2: nineteen eighty, which of course were largely boycotted by New Zealand. 60 00:03:36,427 --> 00:03:38,067 Speaker 2: How much of a disappointment was that. 61 00:03:38,187 --> 00:03:42,427 Speaker 4: For you, Well, when you're sort of I don't know 62 00:03:42,427 --> 00:03:46,067 Speaker 4: how old was I there, I was quite young, and 63 00:03:47,507 --> 00:03:50,587 Speaker 4: you think, you know, you get selected for Olympic Games, 64 00:03:50,587 --> 00:03:52,347 Speaker 4: and you think Oh my god, this is going to be, 65 00:03:52,427 --> 00:03:56,827 Speaker 4: you know, my only chance. And suddenly it was gone. 66 00:03:57,867 --> 00:04:02,107 Speaker 4: You know, little did I know that instead of the end, 67 00:04:02,147 --> 00:04:05,307 Speaker 4: it was just the beginning. But yeah, at the time 68 00:04:05,387 --> 00:04:08,547 Speaker 4: it was very disappointing, but you know, you have to 69 00:04:08,627 --> 00:04:12,547 Speaker 4: understand the reasons behind it, and I guess they were 70 00:04:12,547 --> 00:04:20,467 Speaker 4: the right reasons. But luckily, you know, I got more chances. 71 00:04:21,107 --> 00:04:24,507 Speaker 2: A lot more chances. Nineteen eighty four, Sir Mark, your 72 00:04:24,547 --> 00:04:28,027 Speaker 2: gold was New Zealand's first year, but a questrian Olympic 73 00:04:28,067 --> 00:04:30,787 Speaker 2: medal and a gold one at that. Can you remember 74 00:04:30,787 --> 00:04:34,547 Speaker 2: how confident you felt going into LA in nineteen eighty four. 75 00:04:35,867 --> 00:04:41,947 Speaker 4: Well, I just struck up a partnership with Charisma the 76 00:04:42,027 --> 00:04:46,827 Speaker 4: year before and we came to England at the beginning 77 00:04:46,867 --> 00:04:55,067 Speaker 4: of nineteen eighty four with the idea of going to 78 00:04:55,107 --> 00:04:58,427 Speaker 4: the Olympic Games because it had a very good form 79 00:04:58,467 --> 00:05:02,347 Speaker 4: in New Zealand. But we went to Badminton horse trials 80 00:05:03,707 --> 00:05:07,107 Speaker 4: in the spring of the Northern Hemisphere, which was sort 81 00:05:07,147 --> 00:05:12,427 Speaker 4: of April May, and he was he was second at Badminton, 82 00:05:13,747 --> 00:05:18,907 Speaker 4: So I went to I went to LA feeling confident 83 00:05:18,987 --> 00:05:22,347 Speaker 4: that he would be competitive, or that we could be competitive. 84 00:05:23,507 --> 00:05:25,307 Speaker 4: You know, in these sort of competitions you never go 85 00:05:25,387 --> 00:05:27,347 Speaker 4: into and think, oh, I'm going to win this, because 86 00:05:27,947 --> 00:05:30,187 Speaker 4: you know, in a three day event there's so many 87 00:05:30,227 --> 00:05:33,547 Speaker 4: different phases, so many different facets that you know any 88 00:05:33,587 --> 00:05:36,787 Speaker 4: stage anything can go wrong. And of course you know 89 00:05:37,307 --> 00:05:41,267 Speaker 4: at Badminton you mostly have the English and the Irish 90 00:05:41,267 --> 00:05:43,707 Speaker 4: and maybe some of the Europeans. You go to the 91 00:05:43,747 --> 00:05:46,587 Speaker 4: Olympic Games, you have you have competitors from all over 92 00:05:46,627 --> 00:05:49,627 Speaker 4: the world, so it is a different ball game. So 93 00:05:50,067 --> 00:05:55,947 Speaker 4: I went there feeling confident of a good performance, hopefully 94 00:05:56,027 --> 00:05:59,747 Speaker 4: finishing in the in the top ten, but of course 95 00:05:59,867 --> 00:06:03,467 Speaker 4: come away winning it was was extraordinary really. 96 00:06:03,587 --> 00:06:05,867 Speaker 2: So you were second going into the show jumping after 97 00:06:05,867 --> 00:06:09,267 Speaker 2: the drifts and the cross country, and a clear round 98 00:06:09,707 --> 00:06:13,027 Speaker 2: put the heat on American Karen Stives. If she went 99 00:06:13,147 --> 00:06:17,787 Speaker 2: clear she would win gold. But on the penultimate obstacle, 100 00:06:17,867 --> 00:06:20,627 Speaker 2: her horse beIN Athur, clipped a rail. I remember seeing 101 00:06:20,627 --> 00:06:23,867 Speaker 2: some footage actually some mark of you having a cigarette 102 00:06:23,947 --> 00:06:27,147 Speaker 2: during her around and sort of only keeping half an 103 00:06:27,187 --> 00:06:28,827 Speaker 2: eye on it. Can you remember the moment though, that 104 00:06:28,947 --> 00:06:32,867 Speaker 2: her horse clipped that rail and gold was confirmed for you? 105 00:06:34,507 --> 00:06:40,187 Speaker 4: Oh? Absolutely, like yesterday? Yeah, no, sadly, I was smoking 106 00:06:40,227 --> 00:06:45,227 Speaker 4: in those days, and it was quite a nerve wrecking time. 107 00:06:45,507 --> 00:06:48,027 Speaker 4: I mean, Charisma wasn't a great show jumper, I mean 108 00:06:48,307 --> 00:06:51,947 Speaker 4: that was his weakest thing. And we'd managed to jump 109 00:06:52,027 --> 00:06:57,987 Speaker 4: a clear around and then Karen's horse would of course, 110 00:06:57,987 --> 00:06:59,787 Speaker 4: we were the last two to go. She'd been warming 111 00:06:59,867 --> 00:07:03,547 Speaker 4: up with me at the same time, and her horse 112 00:07:03,707 --> 00:07:05,787 Speaker 4: was like just looping the loop over the fences, and 113 00:07:05,827 --> 00:07:08,387 Speaker 4: only I didn't think it was going to touch one. 114 00:07:09,667 --> 00:07:12,467 Speaker 4: So I'd sort of wandered down to the rails to 115 00:07:13,027 --> 00:07:17,867 Speaker 4: watch the last few jumped the last few fences, and 116 00:07:18,107 --> 00:07:23,427 Speaker 4: as I did so, he had the rail down. Maybe 117 00:07:23,467 --> 00:07:27,947 Speaker 4: it was something I was putting out there, but uh, yeah, no, 118 00:07:28,067 --> 00:07:31,147 Speaker 4: I couldn't quite believe it. I think if you watched 119 00:07:31,187 --> 00:07:33,227 Speaker 4: that footage back again, I sort of put my hands 120 00:07:33,227 --> 00:07:37,787 Speaker 4: over over my head in disbelief that no, as it 121 00:07:37,867 --> 00:07:38,627 Speaker 4: meant I'd won it. 122 00:07:38,787 --> 00:07:41,627 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was a terrific footage. I watched it a 123 00:07:41,627 --> 00:07:43,987 Speaker 2: lot on the lead up to chatting to you. How 124 00:07:44,107 --> 00:07:46,747 Speaker 2: much did Los Angeles change your life? 125 00:07:53,387 --> 00:07:54,067 Speaker 4: It didn't. 126 00:07:54,107 --> 00:07:54,547 Speaker 2: It didn't. 127 00:07:54,787 --> 00:08:00,307 Speaker 4: I mean, you know, life, life goes on, and you 128 00:08:00,347 --> 00:08:02,947 Speaker 4: know you come you come back to reality and of 129 00:08:02,987 --> 00:08:06,747 Speaker 4: your day to day existence and life is just same. 130 00:08:07,707 --> 00:08:14,227 Speaker 4: It certainly gave me a certain amount of recognition, and 131 00:08:14,587 --> 00:08:16,907 Speaker 4: you know, it took a while for it to think 132 00:08:16,987 --> 00:08:19,347 Speaker 4: in that you know, it actually, you know, won a 133 00:08:19,427 --> 00:08:24,467 Speaker 4: gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympic Games. It certainly did. 134 00:08:24,507 --> 00:08:28,587 Speaker 4: But I guess it did change my life a little bit, 135 00:08:28,587 --> 00:08:33,387 Speaker 4: but in the reality of the day to day it didn't. 136 00:08:34,467 --> 00:08:37,627 Speaker 2: Was it always the plan to keep charisma as you're 137 00:08:37,707 --> 00:08:40,747 Speaker 2: mount through to the nineteen eighty eight Games in soul? 138 00:08:41,587 --> 00:08:44,627 Speaker 4: Yeah, Well, if you've if you've read the story, you know, 139 00:08:45,667 --> 00:08:48,107 Speaker 4: you know it was a little bit more complicated than that. 140 00:08:49,867 --> 00:08:54,267 Speaker 4: He was owned by a woman in New Zealand and 141 00:08:55,507 --> 00:08:57,747 Speaker 4: she'd agreed that I could ride him and bring him 142 00:08:57,747 --> 00:09:06,587 Speaker 4: to the Olympic Games. And then after that it was 143 00:09:06,587 --> 00:09:08,787 Speaker 4: a little bit, a little bit of a complicated story. 144 00:09:08,787 --> 00:09:11,427 Speaker 4: But she decided that she wanted to sell the horse 145 00:09:12,787 --> 00:09:17,427 Speaker 4: and didn't want me to ride it anymore. But luckily 146 00:09:18,987 --> 00:09:24,747 Speaker 4: my sponsor at the time, will Rests, Bill and Judy Hall, 147 00:09:24,827 --> 00:09:30,347 Speaker 4: who were the owners of will Rest we devised a 148 00:09:30,387 --> 00:09:33,227 Speaker 4: plan where somebody else came in to buy the horse 149 00:09:33,387 --> 00:09:39,187 Speaker 4: on our behalf, and we managed to secure the horse 150 00:09:39,867 --> 00:09:43,347 Speaker 4: and again to go to the following Olympics, which again 151 00:09:43,387 --> 00:09:44,107 Speaker 4: he duly won. 152 00:09:44,307 --> 00:09:48,387 Speaker 2: Yeah, and by comparison to nineteen eighty four, so Mark 153 00:09:48,427 --> 00:09:50,667 Speaker 2: from memory, nineteen eighty eight was a lot more comfortable. 154 00:09:50,907 --> 00:09:51,827 Speaker 2: Is that how you remember it? 155 00:09:53,027 --> 00:09:56,427 Speaker 4: Yeah? Well, you know, he by that time he was sixteen, 156 00:09:56,507 --> 00:10:00,947 Speaker 4: and we weren't quite sure whether you know not many 157 00:10:00,987 --> 00:10:06,187 Speaker 4: sixteen year olds were competing at that time, but he 158 00:10:07,107 --> 00:10:08,867 Speaker 4: and the lead up to the Olympic Games, he just 159 00:10:08,947 --> 00:10:11,827 Speaker 4: felt he felt amazing. So we just I had two 160 00:10:11,867 --> 00:10:16,787 Speaker 4: horses at a reserve horse, but we decided to take charisma. 161 00:10:17,307 --> 00:10:24,467 Speaker 4: He won the dressage, he had the fastest time cross country, 162 00:10:25,547 --> 00:10:28,067 Speaker 4: and we actually went into the show jumping with a 163 00:10:28,147 --> 00:10:33,347 Speaker 4: relatively comfortable lead. He I think he had two fences 164 00:10:33,347 --> 00:10:39,427 Speaker 4: in hand going into the show jumping phase. So it 165 00:10:39,547 --> 00:10:41,547 Speaker 4: gave me a little bit, you know, as I said, 166 00:10:41,627 --> 00:10:46,587 Speaker 4: you know, show jumping wasn't his strongest point. I think 167 00:10:46,627 --> 00:10:50,947 Speaker 4: he from memory, I think he had one down, but 168 00:10:51,027 --> 00:10:55,827 Speaker 4: then it was it was enough to enough of a 169 00:10:56,227 --> 00:10:58,067 Speaker 4: he had enough of a lead going to the show jumping. 170 00:10:58,427 --> 00:11:00,747 Speaker 4: Even with one down, we still won quite comfortably. 171 00:11:01,267 --> 00:11:03,467 Speaker 2: So back to back gold medals eighty four and eighty eight. 172 00:11:03,547 --> 00:11:06,987 Speaker 2: Want to bring you forward to Sydney two thousands there, 173 00:11:07,547 --> 00:11:11,147 Speaker 2: and then you took eight years out from writing a 174 00:11:11,147 --> 00:11:14,267 Speaker 2: little bit of coaching. Why did you decide to take 175 00:11:14,747 --> 00:11:17,187 Speaker 2: time out from competing at the top level. 176 00:11:18,387 --> 00:11:21,587 Speaker 4: Well, I was in my forties by that stage, and 177 00:11:23,307 --> 00:11:26,507 Speaker 4: you know, I'd sort of lost motivation a little bit. 178 00:11:27,907 --> 00:11:33,387 Speaker 4: You know, I'd won badminton several times, I've won early 179 00:11:33,467 --> 00:11:37,547 Speaker 4: several times, I'd won two Olympics, and I sort of thought, well, 180 00:11:39,627 --> 00:11:42,547 Speaker 4: if I don't try and do something else now, I'm 181 00:11:42,587 --> 00:11:44,707 Speaker 4: going to be too old. And like I said, I'd 182 00:11:44,747 --> 00:11:48,547 Speaker 4: sort of lost motivation a little bit. So we decided 183 00:11:48,627 --> 00:11:51,307 Speaker 4: to call it a day, come back to New Zealand 184 00:11:53,387 --> 00:12:02,547 Speaker 4: and and get into racehourses, breeding and training, racehources and 185 00:12:02,587 --> 00:12:07,867 Speaker 4: that that lasted for eight years. And then then we 186 00:12:07,947 --> 00:12:14,907 Speaker 4: were living quite happily down in South Island when two 187 00:12:14,987 --> 00:12:19,627 Speaker 4: old friends, Eric Devander and Tinks Pottinger came to stay 188 00:12:19,667 --> 00:12:21,947 Speaker 4: and they were they were doing a training clinic in 189 00:12:21,987 --> 00:12:24,867 Speaker 4: the South Lands, and they said, over quite a lot 190 00:12:24,907 --> 00:12:27,227 Speaker 4: of red wine one night, way, don't why don't you 191 00:12:27,227 --> 00:12:30,467 Speaker 4: get a horse and try out for the for the 192 00:12:30,587 --> 00:12:39,067 Speaker 4: soul I'm not sold Beijing Olympics. And I said, will 193 00:12:39,107 --> 00:12:42,547 Speaker 4: you find me a horse, and I'll think about it, 194 00:12:43,347 --> 00:12:46,787 Speaker 4: and thought nothing more of that. And then a few 195 00:12:46,787 --> 00:12:50,347 Speaker 4: months later thinks rings up and said I think I 196 00:12:50,467 --> 00:12:55,427 Speaker 4: found you a horse, and and that was literally how 197 00:12:55,507 --> 00:12:57,307 Speaker 4: I got back into it. So then went and had 198 00:12:57,307 --> 00:13:01,587 Speaker 4: a look at the horse gandalf. I thought, well, I 199 00:13:01,627 --> 00:13:04,387 Speaker 4: probably won't like him, so that'll be the end of it, 200 00:13:05,667 --> 00:13:08,187 Speaker 4: but I did. I quite liked them. Thought well, he 201 00:13:08,227 --> 00:13:10,387 Speaker 4: probably won't pass the vet and that'll be the end 202 00:13:10,427 --> 00:13:15,507 Speaker 4: of it, but he did. I then rang a good friend, 203 00:13:15,507 --> 00:13:19,267 Speaker 4: Peter Vella of Sir Peter Veller of New Zealand Bloodstock 204 00:13:19,347 --> 00:13:24,507 Speaker 4: and said, would you be prepared to sponsor sponsors to 205 00:13:24,547 --> 00:13:28,667 Speaker 4: go have a go at the Olympics And he said, well, 206 00:13:28,667 --> 00:13:31,107 Speaker 4: give me a minute and I'll think about it. Anyway, 207 00:13:31,147 --> 00:13:33,227 Speaker 4: he literally rang back a minute later and said yes, 208 00:13:33,267 --> 00:13:37,107 Speaker 4: we'll do it. So that is how I got back 209 00:13:37,107 --> 00:13:39,067 Speaker 4: into it. And there was always the intention just to 210 00:13:39,107 --> 00:13:41,987 Speaker 4: go to go to Hong Kong for the Olympics and 211 00:13:43,187 --> 00:13:49,347 Speaker 4: then that would be it, but it wasn't. We carried on. 212 00:13:50,827 --> 00:13:54,907 Speaker 2: Indeed two more twenty twelve London Bronze again as part 213 00:13:54,947 --> 00:13:57,947 Speaker 2: of the New Zealand team. Then twenty sixteen in Rio 214 00:13:58,027 --> 00:14:01,147 Speaker 2: did you know after Rio that that would definitely be it. 215 00:14:02,267 --> 00:14:04,707 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean that was you know, I think I'd 216 00:14:04,707 --> 00:14:08,867 Speaker 4: sort of push pushed the boat long enough. And Rio, 217 00:14:08,987 --> 00:14:12,387 Speaker 4: I have to say, was probably one of the biggest disappointments, 218 00:14:13,347 --> 00:14:20,067 Speaker 4: you know, of my career, for personally and for the team. 219 00:14:20,227 --> 00:14:24,387 Speaker 4: We went into the went into the show jumping on 220 00:14:24,467 --> 00:14:28,267 Speaker 4: a horse that normally jumps really really well and is 221 00:14:28,347 --> 00:14:32,987 Speaker 4: pretty reliable in the show jumping and silver medal, individual 222 00:14:33,067 --> 00:14:38,987 Speaker 4: silver medal position and team gold. I came out of 223 00:14:39,027 --> 00:14:44,227 Speaker 4: the show jumping with nothing. The first rail down, we 224 00:14:44,307 --> 00:14:47,187 Speaker 4: slipped from gold to silver, the second rail down, we 225 00:14:47,907 --> 00:14:51,227 Speaker 4: slipped to bronze, and the third rail down we were 226 00:14:51,267 --> 00:14:54,427 Speaker 4: out of it. And it was there was nothing I 227 00:14:54,427 --> 00:14:56,867 Speaker 4: could do on the horse. He just froze when he 228 00:14:56,947 --> 00:15:01,547 Speaker 4: got in there and just kept having rails. And it 229 00:15:01,627 --> 00:15:06,267 Speaker 4: was I mean, you know, I was gutted personally not 230 00:15:06,467 --> 00:15:12,307 Speaker 4: to win another individual medal at what I knew was 231 00:15:12,347 --> 00:15:15,827 Speaker 4: going to be my last Olympics. But when you let 232 00:15:15,867 --> 00:15:19,747 Speaker 4: the team down like that, it's it's something totally different. 233 00:15:19,827 --> 00:15:23,387 Speaker 4: And no, it was. It was not a great day. 234 00:15:23,467 --> 00:15:24,427 Speaker 4: I'm afraid. 235 00:15:24,987 --> 00:15:27,747 Speaker 2: How did you come to terms with it, with with 236 00:15:27,787 --> 00:15:28,427 Speaker 2: what it happened. 237 00:15:29,587 --> 00:15:31,907 Speaker 4: Well, listen, if you've been in the sport as long 238 00:15:31,947 --> 00:15:35,987 Speaker 4: as I have, you have you have good days and 239 00:15:36,027 --> 00:15:39,147 Speaker 4: then you have bad days and there is no way 240 00:15:39,147 --> 00:15:42,907 Speaker 4: around it. And you know, I've had had lots of 241 00:15:42,947 --> 00:15:46,707 Speaker 4: bad days, you know, through through my career, and you've 242 00:15:46,747 --> 00:15:50,507 Speaker 4: just got to pick yourself up and just say, oh, 243 00:15:50,547 --> 00:15:54,227 Speaker 4: that was didn't work, and you know it's it's not 244 00:15:54,387 --> 00:15:59,387 Speaker 4: life changing. It's disappointing, but it's not life changing, and 245 00:15:59,467 --> 00:16:01,947 Speaker 4: you just have to put it in perspective. And you know, 246 00:16:01,987 --> 00:16:05,547 Speaker 4: I have to say, you know the rest of the team, 247 00:16:05,747 --> 00:16:08,907 Speaker 4: you know, they they were great as well. And we 248 00:16:09,667 --> 00:16:13,347 Speaker 4: had a few drinks and commiseration that night and everybody 249 00:16:13,547 --> 00:16:16,427 Speaker 4: was disappointed, but still in good spirits. 250 00:16:16,467 --> 00:16:21,907 Speaker 2: So yeah, across your career you achieved so much and 251 00:16:21,947 --> 00:16:25,747 Speaker 2: you talked about badminton and burley Where do your Olympic 252 00:16:25,827 --> 00:16:27,987 Speaker 2: gold medals rank in all of that? Smuk? 253 00:16:29,147 --> 00:16:32,027 Speaker 4: You know, the thing about winning an Olympic medal is 254 00:16:32,147 --> 00:16:34,267 Speaker 4: you know, you know, you know I can win. You 255 00:16:34,307 --> 00:16:37,627 Speaker 4: know I won four badmintons, I won five Burley's And 256 00:16:38,067 --> 00:16:41,347 Speaker 4: to the average person, you know, that probably means nothing. 257 00:16:41,387 --> 00:16:43,707 Speaker 4: They don't know what that is. But if you say 258 00:16:43,747 --> 00:16:48,827 Speaker 4: you won an Olympic gold medal, It's it's immediately recognized 259 00:16:48,867 --> 00:16:52,587 Speaker 4: as you know, a sporting achievement. And I think that's 260 00:16:52,587 --> 00:16:54,787 Speaker 4: the biggest thing. You know that within the sport. The 261 00:16:54,827 --> 00:16:59,587 Speaker 4: Olympics probably isn't as big as badminton and burley, but 262 00:16:59,667 --> 00:17:02,067 Speaker 4: it's you know, the Olympics are the Olympics. And then 263 00:17:02,227 --> 00:17:05,067 Speaker 4: and you know for that reason, they're just very very special. 264 00:17:05,627 --> 00:17:08,107 Speaker 2: Where do you keep your Olympic medals. 265 00:17:09,507 --> 00:17:13,827 Speaker 4: At the moment, they're They're in a drawer in a 266 00:17:13,867 --> 00:17:21,267 Speaker 4: safe place. Yeah, every now and again I get asked 267 00:17:21,267 --> 00:17:26,427 Speaker 4: to bring them out and show people, and uh, yeah, 268 00:17:26,707 --> 00:17:28,307 Speaker 4: they know they're very special. 269 00:17:28,587 --> 00:17:30,467 Speaker 2: Bet a bet. So what takes up most of your 270 00:17:30,467 --> 00:17:31,187 Speaker 2: time now. 271 00:17:32,187 --> 00:17:36,307 Speaker 4: Well, I'm back training race horses for the moment anyway, 272 00:17:37,067 --> 00:17:41,387 Speaker 4: So yeah, where you know, mornings start early, horses have 273 00:17:41,427 --> 00:17:44,947 Speaker 4: to be fared, worked and everything else. So in that respect, 274 00:17:44,947 --> 00:17:48,627 Speaker 4: my life hasn't really changed. So and and horses always 275 00:17:48,667 --> 00:17:52,227 Speaker 4: will have a have a part of my life. As 276 00:17:52,267 --> 00:17:56,587 Speaker 4: we're looking to maybe slow down a bit from next 277 00:17:56,667 --> 00:18:00,307 Speaker 4: year on, so we will we will see. 278 00:18:00,467 --> 00:18:03,707 Speaker 2: All right. And in Olympic Games, rushing up fast with 279 00:18:03,747 --> 00:18:06,787 Speaker 2: a questrine obviously there and and Keewis can aiding. Will 280 00:18:06,827 --> 00:18:10,307 Speaker 2: you be following along the you know, the the equestrian 281 00:18:10,347 --> 00:18:11,307 Speaker 2: events in Paris? 282 00:18:12,227 --> 00:18:16,027 Speaker 4: Oh? Absolutely, yeah. I mean, you know, I love watching 283 00:18:16,107 --> 00:18:20,307 Speaker 4: the Olympics and and well I'll be again watching out 284 00:18:20,307 --> 00:18:23,147 Speaker 4: for the New Zealand team and keeping fingers across that. 285 00:18:23,747 --> 00:18:27,427 Speaker 4: You know, we have a good uh a good Olympics, 286 00:18:28,387 --> 00:18:31,907 Speaker 4: the equestrian team, and obviously know them all really well, 287 00:18:34,347 --> 00:18:38,627 Speaker 4: so I'll certainly be watching out for them as well. 288 00:18:38,707 --> 00:18:41,387 Speaker 4: It'll be it'll be great in Paris. It'll be a wonderful, 289 00:18:41,507 --> 00:18:43,227 Speaker 4: wonderful specle. They'll do it really well. 290 00:18:43,307 --> 00:18:49,027 Speaker 2: Yeah, I bet they will. So, Mark, It's been so interesting, educational, entertaining, 291 00:18:49,227 --> 00:18:51,787 Speaker 2: informative and a real pleasure to catch up with you, 292 00:18:51,827 --> 00:18:55,027 Speaker 2: one of our truly great Olympians. Thank you for taking 293 00:18:55,027 --> 00:18:57,427 Speaker 2: time to chat to us on our road to Paris. 294 00:18:57,707 --> 00:18:59,827 Speaker 2: All the best for what lies ahead. Thanks for your. 295 00:18:59,707 --> 00:19:02,707 Speaker 4: Time, pleasure. Thank you very much, No, thank you. 296 00:19:02,867 --> 00:19:06,267 Speaker 2: Sir Mark. Sir Mark Todd there, seven time Olympian, five 297 00:19:06,387 --> 00:19:10,947 Speaker 2: time Olympic medalist and double gold medal winning three day 298 00:19:11,027 --> 00:19:14,667 Speaker 2: eventa aboard Charisma in nineteen eighty four and again in 299 00:19:14,747 --> 00:19:18,947 Speaker 2: nineteen eighty eight. Our road to Paris feature continues next 300 00:19:18,947 --> 00:19:23,347 Speaker 2: Sunday after two o'clock as we continue to highlight and 301 00:19:23,467 --> 00:19:26,467 Speaker 2: remember some of the great Olympic moments in our history. 302 00:19:27,267 --> 00:19:30,467 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 303 00:19:30,587 --> 00:19:33,867 Speaker 1: to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow 304 00:19:33,907 --> 00:19:35,707 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.