Eiken Sato stays calm in face of setback

Eiken Sato’s philosophical response to a “disappointing” first spherical within the Olympic showjumping could also be partly due to his heritage. The Japanese showjumper was born right into a centuries-old Buddhist temple compound, the place his father, Shodo, was the chief priest. Each Shodo and Eiken’s older brother Kenki are Buddhist monks.

“I used to be born into temple life, however I’m the center brother so I don’t should be a monk,” says Eiken, 38. “I used to be free to go and trip horses! Possibly this background helps me to be calm, it’s attainable.”

Olympic showjumping within the genes for Eiken Sato

However equestrianism is as a lot a part of the Sato household’s heritage as Buddhism. In Ogawa, Nagano, the mountain village the place Eiken was raised, his father arrange a driving faculty.

“My father had a driving membership, so I rode there from eight years previous to 18,” he says. “Then I moved to Belgium, and now I’m in Germany.”

Kenki rode within the Japanese eventing crew within the London 2012 Olympics and competed as much as CCI5*, whereas Shodo was additionally chosen for the Japanese crew for the Moscow 1980 Video games, however he didn’t get to compete as Japan joined the boycott. Eiken’s youthful sister Tae additionally competes in worldwide showjumping.

After Japan didn’t qualify for the crew ultimate on Friday (2 August) on the Paris Olympics, Eiken is hoping for an improved efficiency within the particular person competitors which begins on Monday (5 August). He and Conthargo-Blue, whom he has been driving solely since April, had 4 down within the qualifier.

“I’m upset, however we’re driving animals and we’re additionally animals,” he says. “Most of all I really feel sorry for my horse. I can not change it by crying, so I attempt to put my head up and preserve going.”

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Martha is an skilled journalist who’s mad-keen on canines of all sizes and styles. 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, a particularly energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on subjects as numerous as a prime horse’s clone to the most effective GPS trackers for canines, in addition to equestrian and rural issues for Nation Life, The Subject, The Instances, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.