Alex Hua Tian became China's first Olympic rider when he participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Aged only 18 at the time, he was also the youngest rider in the competition. Here, he documents his rise to international fame.

Alex, you are China's first ever Olympic event rider. Tell us a little about your sport.

The sport of eventing is like a triathlon on horseback. Events have three distinct phases, the first of which is dressage, a test of discipline, obedience and graceful gymnastic ability of horse and rider. The cross-country phase is the 'extreme' part of my sport involving speed and an element of danger, galloping at solid fences. Horses need to be very brave and bold. On the last day, the final phase is show jumping, testing agility and accuracy. It's a really tough test as the horses can be tired and stiff so you need all your skills as a rider.

Do you think there are parallels with Formula One?

I watch a lot of F1 and I think the main similarity is the importance of teamwork. On the day, it's you and your horse out there making decisions – as it is for an F1 driver during a race. But there is only so much you can do at that stage – you rely on the preparation that the whole team have undertaken to get you to that point.

You rode for China in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. How did it feel to be the youngest rider in the competition?

I think it was a good thing to be young and perhaps a bit naïve as I didn't really know what to expect and so I didn't get too nervous!  As the only eventer representing the host nation, there was a lot of media interest and pressure on my shoulders, but as the youngest and least experienced rider there, the expectations weren't unmanageably high and it was the pressure from my peers in the sport that I was more aware of.

How are your preparations going for London 2012? You recently took part in the Olympic test event at Greenwich Park in London - how was that?

My preparations this year have been going well. I had to do all my qualifying for London 2012 in Spain and Italy during February of this year, as last season was very difficult with horses being out of action due to injury. Eventing is a bit like Formula 1 in that respect – if you have problems during the season, it's really hard to catch up.

I went to Greenwich for the Test event with an open mind and I thought the venue was great. Eventing does have a glamorous image and Greenwich is a perfect setting for the sport with the backdrop of historic royal buildings and the London skyline.

Who, or what, inspired you to take up eventing? Was it something you always wanted to do?

My Mum has always had horses and I had a typically British upbringing in China, riding ponies at a local riding school near Beijing from a young age. Then I had my own ponies, and when I was 10, I was sent to stay with Australian eventers (and fellow Olympians), Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks in the UK.  They recognised my talent and have been very influential for me, along with my Mum, who has been instrumental in my career.

The Chinese press called you 'one in a billion'. Do you think your success has inspired other equestrians at home in China?
I'd like to think so! Before the Beijing Olympics, there was one equestrian publication in China – now there are hundreds. It's still a minority sport, relatively speaking, as it isn't cheap to compete. But with China's increasing economic growth, it's becoming accessible to many more people.

You planned to study aeronautical engineering at University before deciding to concentrate full time on your sport – was that a difficult decision?

I went back to school in 2009 to finish my studies after the Beijing Games, and then had an uncomfortable conversation with my parents about not going to university so I could concentrate on full time eventing! I'm not the sort of person to compromise and wanted to be fully committed to make the most of the opportunity I have. I can't imagine doing anything else!

How do you prepare yourself mentally for your best performance before a big competition?

I'm very good at compartmentalising my thoughts and I don't generally suffer from nerves. My support team have learnt that I have to be made to prepare mentally – my natural reaction is not to think about it until it is happening!

Your family is Chinese, and you spent your early childhood there before coming to the UK where you are now based. Do you still visit China often? Which region are you from and what is your favourite memory of home?

I'd love to visit China more often than my schedule allows – in fact I will be there the week before the Chinese Grand Prix and it's a shame I won't see the race. My father is from Guangdong province and my favourite memories are of learning to ride in a little riding school near Beijing. I rode a tiny grey pony called Xiao Hu Lu (literally means Little Gourd) and I fell off all the time!

Infiniti is about performance and luxury. If you were able to choose any luxurious item to enjoy for yourself, what would it be?

A luxury horse lorry! I had to sell mine to fund my eventing…

Infiniti's partnership with Red Bull Racing in F1 is a story of 'inspired performance'. You obviously have an incredible partnership with your horses to have reached the highest level of your sport. How do you develop that partnership, and what would you describe as your most 'inspired performance' so far in your career?

At Team China we have a saying – eventing is the ultimate sport for the ultimate partnership. It takes time to develop a great partnership with your horse. Fundamentally you have to love the horse and enjoy training it – that sounds clichéd but it's true. Some horses you click with and others you don't.

My most 'inspired performance' was probably when I finally qualified, aged 18, at an event in Poland for the 2008 Olympic Games. It suddenly hit me that all the pressure to qualify had disappeared and I could enjoy the achievement and celebrate with my support team and my parents.

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