Disbelief as Aussie Olympics legend picked in record eighth Games
Australian sports fans have taken to social media to hail equestrian stalwart Andrew Hoy after the 62-year-old was selected for a record-extending eighth Olympic Games.
Hoy was Australia's flag bearer for the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 and few. Could have predicted that he would still be representing his country on the biggest stage 25 years later.
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The three-time Olympic Games gold medallist says riding at his eighth Olympic Games is the greatest honour in his life.
No other Australian had been to seven Games before but Hoy will extend his record for most Olympics appearances by an Australian next month in Tokyo.
Equestrian compatriot Mary Hanna will contest her sixth Olympics at the age of 66 - she will be Australia's oldest Olympic athlete.
The pair are among a six-strong Australian equestrian team announced on Friday also featuring Chris Burton, Shane Rose and Olympic debutants Simone Pearce and Kelly Layne.
Hoy, Burton and Rose are on Australia's eventing team with Hanna, Pearce and Layne to contest dressage.
Hoy is seeking to add to his Olympic medal collection of three golds and one silver.
Hoy to ride deeper into the record books
"To represent Australia at international level over so many years has been the greatest privilege and honour of my life," Hoy said.
""I have never set out to break records on my number of Olympic Games participations.
"I am just a country boy from Culcairn who loves his horses, has a huge passion for our sport and thrives on being competitive."
Hanna, a grandmother of three with a fourth due before the Games start on July 23, said she was "absolutely thrilled" to earn selection.
"It has been a truly testing time for all with so many challenges ... a bit like walking a tightrope to get this far," she said.
But it was news of Hoy's selection for the Australian team that has been met with awe and disbelief on social media.
@Tommy_A7 Andrew Hoy is BACK!
— Leachy (Daniel Leach) 📻🎙🎧 (@TheSportsFreak) June 25, 2021
What an achievement for our equestrian legend Andrew Hoy as he embarks on his 8th Olympic games journey! I know little, if anything, about the sport but to remain competitive at such an elite level for so long is truly extraordinary by any sports standard.
— Remo Nogarotto (@RNogarotto) June 24, 2021
I bet when they made Andrew Hoy flagbearer in Atlanta they weren't expecting him to be around 25 years later to possibly do it again.
— Lachy France (@lachyheel) June 25, 2021
Australia's equestrian athlete Andrew Hoy will play his 8th Olympics @Tokyo2020 .
A 62-year-old riding a horse, with 3 Olympic gold and a silver already to his name in Eventing. Andrew gives all aspiring athletes around the world the reason to chase their dreams. #Olympics— Jaspreet Singh Sahni (@JaspreetSSahni) June 25, 2021
When Andrew Hoy made his first Olympic appearance:
➡️India had just won their first Cricket World Cup
➡️PT Usha came close to an Olympic medal in athletics
➡️Sunil Chhetri was just a few days old
Hoy is 62 now and the #TokyoOlympics will be his 8th assignment. Mind->Blown.🤯 pic.twitter.com/sQ7KOjcn5h— The Bridge (@the_bridge_in) June 24, 2021
Andrew Hoy going to his 8th Olympics for Australia. What a 🐐
— Spleens the Cat (@RubyStiff) June 24, 2021
The physical fitness is amazing for 3 day eventing - for both horse and rider. To be still at such an elite level at 62 is brilliant! I remember growing up and knowing his name competing for Australia!
— Deborah Hennessy (@debhennessy21) June 24, 2021
with AAP
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