Chris Burton has paid tribute to wife Bek after his return to the treacherous world of eventing paid off with Olympic silver.
The 42-year-old Australian, a team eventing bronze medallist at Rio 2016, ditched his show jumping speciality for another shot at eventing — on a loaned British horse he has only been riding for five months.
British rider Ben Hobday, believing he had no chance of making the Olympics himself, convinced Burton to take “the best horse in the world” Shadow Man.
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Burton himself then had to convince Bek, who put together the global program that helped him qualify.
“Bear in mind, I had a wife very cross with me for putting her through all of this. I joke about that, but she’s been amazing. She made it happen,” he said.
“I took a little break from eventing, so it’s really nice to come back and have this happen. Just right now, I can’t help but think I’m a lucky man.”
As for Shadow Man?
“An amazing horse to ride. Isn’t he a machine? Isn’t he a delight? He just springs off the ground, he’s got scope and he’s got care and he’s a pleasure,” beamed Burton.
“I spotted him years ago. I always knew he was that good. We just tried twice to buy him and Ben was too much in love with him to sell him — and I can understand it.”
Burton was third overnight after the dressage and cross country but moved into the silver position after the show jumping qualifying round when they had a clear round fractionally outside the time limit.
Then on a blazingly hot afternoon against the majestic backdrop of the Chateau de Versailles, the fledgling combination cleared all 12 fences in the finale.
It put Burton in sight of Australia’s first individual eventing triumph since Matt Ryan on Kibah Tic Toc in Barcelona 1992, as he knew 41-year-old German great Michael Jung, on Chipmunk FRH, was under the ultimate pressure.
“I’m not gonna lie. I thought we had him there for a second,” smiled Burton, saluting the four-time champion Jung, who became the first man to win three individual eventing golds.
“But I just gave a cheeky interview on German television.
“I said ‘Mickey, I’ve hated you for so long, but you’re the greatest of all-time, mate’. He’s amazing. So there’s no shame in coming second behind that bloke.
“Watching his round, it’s a funny thing. The Germans call it schadenfreude, it’s a lovely term. You sort of want to watch, but then you want to enjoy the moment — and it’s a little bit tearing … I honestly can’t believe it.”
Jung prevailed on 21.80 penalty points, 0.60 clear of Burton. Laura Collett, who’d earlier led Britain to the team title, finished third on 23.10.
– with AAP