It was love from the jump
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Former Olympic and world champion Ludger Beerbaum's first sport was soccer before he was led into riding by a friend as a child. Provided to China Daily |
Nobody knows whether Ludger Beerbaum could have been successful if he chose to play soccer as a child.
The former world No 1 show jumper, who has four Olympic titles and numerous European and World Championship medals, started out as a soccer enthusiast before being led into riding by a friend.
"I made my first contact with the sport at about 8 or 9 years old," Beerbaum said. "I went to a local riding school to get lessons, but in the beginning I was a little bit afraid of horses. But two years later, a friend of mine was really keen and very brave, I followed him and started to ride regularly when I was about 10.
"I prefered to play football at that time, so he shared with me how to play football, and I shared with him how to ride," he said. "He really loves to ride, but even in the first competition we did, I beat him, and he was very depressed."
Beerbaum realized immediately this is what he was good at.
"It's a sense every human being has for nature," the 48-year-old said. "To communicate with an animal with feeling, non-verbal, and realize you can form the animal in the way you want by being an athlete with it is really something challenging,"
Beerbaum said doing his own maintaining and breeding his own horses helped him form a complete picture of the sport. The German said the sport needs more young people.
"When you are young, sometimes you are too competitive, and the horses tell you that you cannot do something they are not able to understand, and you are told by the animal what is possible and what is not," Beerbaum said. "For myself, I learned to be patient, and not to force things more than they can take.
"Different from others in today's world, especially technology, Internet, game station and stuff like this, staying with a horse is something good for the soul to calm down, and even help to build up a balanced character."
Beerbaum attributed his success more to his dedication than his talent.
"I'm been quite successful, but I'm not the most talented," he said. "The talent is important, but only one aspect. Another thing is you have to really focus on what you do, try to get rid of all the noises, be sure and ambitious about what you are doing."
tangzhe@chinadaily.com.cm
