Chinese equestrian Alex Hua Tian has announced his slogan for the upcoming Olympics: "Hoof Print to Tokyo."

"Obviously for myself, for my horses, for my team, Tokyo represents a new Olympic challenge, but also for my Chinese teammates, and also for the equestrian industry and sport in China, it is a new beginning and a new challenge, because that's the first time we qualified for the eventing team event," the 31-year-old told Xinhua News Agency in an interview.

The Tokyo Games were postponed by a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so was the release of Hua's new slogan. "Under normal circumstances, this event would be held last year in Beijing and Tokyo 2020 would be held in 2020, but nowadays you can't discuss anything without putting it in the broad context of the COVID-19 pandemic."

But Hua believes the slogan still carries its weight. "I think it's a much needed inspiration for global audiences around the world to have the opportunity to use inspirational sport from their lockdown wherever they might be in the world during the pandemic."

Hua also made it clear that his team will definitely go to Tokyo "until somebody says that we can't."

Back in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Hua finished the competition ranking No. 8 riding Don Geniro. Two years later, he won the bronze medal in the Asian Games in Jakarta on PSH Convivial. Both horses have been qualified for the Tokyo Olympics and Hua has not decided which one will go with him.

"If the right horse hasn't made itself clear in the lead-up to the last few weeks, I could take two horses to the airport, but I can only take one horse on the flight. But in my experiences, under that level of pressure in the final preparation, normally the right horse will make itself clear," said Hua, who has until July 20 before making the final call.

(Cover: Chinese rider Alex Hua Tian rides on his horse Don Geniro during a press conference at Pinfold Stables in Cheshire, Britain, May 14, 2021. /Xinhua News Agency