AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Nov. 23-- New Zealand's Eventing legend Sir Mark Todd said in a recent interview with Xinhua that he will still keep eyes on the Tokyo Olympic Games although he has retired from his sport. The 63-year-old, who competed in seven Olympic Games and won two individual gold medals and three bronzes, announced his retirement in July after helping New Zealand win the Nations Cup at the Camphire International Horse Trials in Ireland. "I won't go to Tokyo unless I have a role in the New Zealand team," he told Xinhua at the EQUITANA Auckland. "But I will be watching the competition because my horse McClaren will be there." McClaren competed with Todd at last year's World Equestrian Games but sustained an injury early this year and is now with former teammate Jonelle Price. "It was a fantastic little horse," Todd said. "I am hoping that they have a good partnership and they can go to the Olympic Games. That will give me added interest in (Tokyo). I will be very happy to watch what they will do. Maybe I am a little bit jealous." Todd, voted Rider of the 20th Century by the FEI, had planned to compete in Tokyo for his eighth Olympics but finally called it quits a year before it kicks off. "I just did not have the motivation to put that work in. Yes, I can go there and maybe finish top ten. But to win it, you have to put that much effort. I just don't want to do that every day. It is very time consuming as well. There are other things I want to do." |