Primed for the ride of a lifetime

Hua Tian carries China's hopes for Olympic glory at Rio Games

Alex Hua Tian is galloping down the back stretch to the Rio Olympics.

Though qualifications won't be finalized until March, Hua, who at 18 became the first Chinese equestrian athlete to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Games and the youngest rider to compete, has built a big enough lead over the rest of the field in the F-G region to assure he will ride in Brazil next summer.