Astier Nicolas: “For the Games, everything now rests on the shoulders of Alertamalib’Or”

Until then a candidate for selection for the Paris Olympic Games with Alertamalib’Or and Babylon de Gamma, Astier Nicolas had to resolve to withdraw the latter from the race for Olympus. At the Master Pro in Vittel, the double medalist from the Rio Olympic Games spoke in all sincerity about the retirement of his 14-year-old gelding. He also returned to the changes that occurred in the functioning of his system after Rio.

The Paris Olympic Games are almost a month to the day. How are you ?
For my part, things are going very well, I have obtained all my qualifications and played all my cards. I’m in a waiting position.

Is the wait difficult?
No because it was an extremely demanding season, I had to achieve five qualifying results on two different horses (three for Alertamalib’Or and two for Babylon de Gamma, editor’s note) in at least three months, between the end of March and mid-June. It took a lot of concentration but I did my job.

“No room for error”

Three months is a very short time to complete three qualifying events in eventing with the same horse. There is very little, if any, room for error. Did you feel any additional pressure regarding this tight timing?
That adds to it, but I would say that I managed to keep that pressure away because I know my horses well. It’s a pressure similar to that of entering a horse racing course and being first in the provisional. If you’re not sure of your move, you don’t know your horse well or he’s not reliable, there’s definitely more pressure. These are two horses that I know like the back of my hand. I unstuffed them both. They came to my house when they were 3 and 2 years old, we’re a bit like old friends. I had no room for error, it’s true, I didn’t have any “spare” qualifications, especially with Mitch. (nickname of Alertamalib’Or, editor’s note).

“I must respect Babylon”

So everything is fine on your side. And that of your horses?
They are all fine, except Babylon was ousted from the Olympic selection. There’s a little catch. As everyone knows, he unshod in Marbach and unfortunately it was the sensitive foot for which he was arrested the year of the Tokyo Games that unshod. My team and I, and by that I mean my trainers, my owners, my veterinarian and my marshal, were optimistic about the possibility of him being 100% for the Paris Games. Finally, it turns out that the timing will not be perfect. I don’t want to take him if the conditions aren’t ideal. I must respect my horse and respect the plan planned by Thierry Touzaint for the preparation of the team. So we remove it. Everything is on Mitch’s shoulders now.

Mitch had a very good start to the season (eighth in the CCI4*-S at Kronenberg and second in the CCI4*-L at Saumur, editor’s note). Unfortunately in Luhmühlen you have two bars on the horse track. How do you explain these mistakes?
These two bars are the downside. They don’t come at the best time, I would have preferred that he did them at the start of the season. I know that these bars are due to small changes or details that I managed to identify, a material element that I missed for example. Mitch lacked a little explosiveness at the end of the course. I know what more I can give him after the cross so that it doesn’t happen again. I’m not worried and I hope Thierry isn’t too worried either.

“The program is structured around long formats”

You have chosen to qualify them in different competitions. Is it a strategy to distribute your cards so as not to find yourself helpless in the event of the cancellation of an event for example or simply the choice of the terrain best suited to each horse?
They did the same back-to-school competition in Kronenberg in March (the CCI4*-L for Babylon, which he won, and the CCI4*-S for Alertamalib’Or, editor’s note). This was targeted because we know that the infrastructures allow competitions to be held in all weathers. The cross country is a bit like Verrie, it’s a winter course, 100% sand, so the more it rains, the more stabilized it is. Then, Mitch did a long format in Saumur.
Besides, we had made plans at the beginning of the year and, with Michel Asseray (DTN deputy for discipline, editor’s note), there is a subtlety in the regulations which misled us about the qualification system. We thought Babylon would qualify after Kronenberg and Mitch after Saumur. This was not the case, they each needed one more course. I would have proceeded differently if I had done this before in order to qualify them as early as possible because the program is based around long formats.

“Try to systematize performance”

Eight years ago already, you experienced your first Olympic Games and you won team gold and individual silver. What has changed in eight years for you?
Rio was horse riding. Now it’s a more professionalized system than what I had before Rio. My creation of performance comes from a system whereas at the start of my career, it was more about inspiration, the couple we formed with Piaf de B’Neville. Since Rio, I have worked with more or less ease and difficulty to be able to have qualified and selectable horses for this deadline. It is no longer a question of leaving it to the natural flow of things but trying to systematize performance to be able to bring home medals at a chosen deadline.

You were only 27 when you went to Rio and you brought back two medals while you were still at the very beginning of your career. Did you have that “down” that some athletes say they have after the Olympic Games?
No, I didn’t get it. I had a “down” period due to horse injuries, a reduced presence at a high level which happened about two years later. I got out of it today but it was a little long. On the other hand, I have known show jumping riders or even teammates, like Karim (Laghouag, team gold medalist at the time with Entebbe de Hus, editor’s note), who felt the need to go outdoors, with their family, to isolate themselves just after the Games. For me, on the contrary, it rather boosted me. When I got home, I only wanted to go to Haras du Pin to do battle even though it was eight days after Rio. I think if I go to Paris, I would have a different reaction. I need to take a breath rather than going back straight away.

“Today, I would have a different way of capitalizing on an Olympic medal”

Why would you feel this need now?
I think I had to put less effort into making Rio than I put into making Paris today. Things were pretty logical and aligned. That doesn’t take away any merit, but it was more obvious. The horse was doing well, he performed well once, twice, three times… The selection arrives, he is still in great shape, you go to the Games, everything is going well. There, between the horses that were injured last year, the qualifications to obtain, the advancing age… Casually, the season is not demanding except because of the horses that you bring to the Games. You have the team behind, I have a bigger system to manage today than I had eight years ago. Before, I managed a little more with my fingertips, now, I’m more hands-on. But it’s normal, it’s part of development.

Some time ago, you stated in the press that you thought the repercussions of these medals would be greater than they actually were. What repercussions did you expect?
Maybe to have more horses, durability, but I don’t blame it on life and destiny. If I had the same chance today, I think I would have a slightly different way of using these medals and acting. It’s not easy to surround yourself with the right people to promote performances of this type in a sport that struggles to be professional. We are more professionals in horse sales, sport does not make us a living. It’s not easy to find the right levers. I cannot, overnight, also take on the roles of PR, agent, communicator, head of the gondola, muse… (laughs).

“The Olympics are the number one event”

Have these smaller repercussions changed your vision of the Olympics and the opportunities that the Games bring for an athlete?
No, I think the Olympic Games are the number one event to develop your image, your activity and your business, despite the difficulties I had. Even though I thought it would bring more repercussions, it still brought me great opportunities. I’m in a better situation today than if I hadn’t gotten a medal. I know what things I did less well at the time, but I must admit that if tomorrow I go to Paris and another medal arrives, I know that I am still missing an agent or someone one to help me with media exposure.
Let’s say I know what I don’t want, what I’m looking for, but I haven’t found it. I think if I’m lucky enough to have good performances, knowing that I know what it takes, it will be easier to find. But I don’t have that in my pocket yet. And at the same time, I need it less immediately than after possible medals.

Equestrian competitionEventingOlympic GamesParis 2024