crash survivor Federico Fernandez at fourth Video games

“I’m very grateful for my life,” says Mexico’s Olympic showjumping stalwart Federico Fernandez, a veteran for 4 Olympic Video games. “It has been such a blessing to have the ability to compete for my nation for therefore a few years.”

Federico, 56, was initially listed because the reserve for the Mexican crew for the Paris Olympics, then moved into the alternate slot and stepped into the ultimate crew when his team-mate Andres Azcarraga’s horse Contendros 2 didn’t go the horse inspection. Regardless of such depth of Olympic expertise, Federico just isn’t resting on his laurels. He had only one fence down aboard Romeo, serving to Mexico to qualify for the ultimate.

“The primary factor is what occurs proper now,” he says. “What occurs previously, it was ardour within the second, however it’s occurred and it’s important to deal with what it’s important to do at the moment as a result of, for certain, what you probably did previously just isn’t going that can assist you at the moment.”

Federico Fernandez: “So fortunate to have 4 Olympic companions”

“I’ve been so fortunate to have so many good horses, since you at all times want a horse,” he says. “They don’t have the longevity of a rider and I’ve been in 4 Olympic Video games with 4 totally different horses. That’s probably the most tough half, to have 4 totally different companions in your life that may take you spherical an Olympic course.”

Federico provides: “At first your horse must be your good friend. You can not compete on the high stage with out an emotional connection.

“Romeo’s essential attribute is that he’ll do every part to please with you. He jumps along with his coronary heart and thoughts reasonably than his legs though in fact he’s very gifted as effectively when it comes to method and scope. He’s the very best accomplice you possibly can have, particularly at my age.”

Federico has extra perspective than most on the subject of Olympic successes. Aged 19, he was flying to a younger rider championship with 11 folks and 18 horses on board, from Mexico Metropolis to Chicago through Miami. On the primary leg of the flight, the airplane crashed into rush-hour site visitors on a serious freeway. Federico was one in every of three passengers to outlive, and just one horse lived.

Federico was caught within the blaze and needed to spend six months in particular burns unit in hospital, with 50 operations on his face. His gratitude to have been in a position to signify his nation at so many Olympic Video games is palpable.

You may additionally be considering:

H&H options editor

Martha is an skilled journalist who’s mad-keen on canines of all sizes and shapes. After rising up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she loved 14 years with two rescue canines, one a road canine from Gambia who was deserted at three weeks previous. Now, her fixed companion, whether or not by her toes at her desk or strolling cross-country programs, is Fidget, an especially energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on subjects as numerous as a high horse’s clone to the very best GPS trackers for canines, in addition to equestrian and rural issues for Nation Life, The Subject, The Occasions, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.