Life of Guangzhou - Brazilian, 16, Youngest Equine Olympian

Brazil is already among the countries known for having prowess in equestrian jumping.

Dressage, on the other hand, can stand to gain some popularity among Brazilians.

That's where 16-year-old Luiza Almeida comes in. As the youngest equestrian rider in the history of the Olympic Games, Almeida is doing what she can to bring the dressage event into her country's spotlight.

Born into an equine family, Almeida's father is a horse breeder, her mother and two younger brothers are show jumpers, and her sister is a dressage rider.

"I have had a close relationship with horses since I was very young," she told China Daily yesterday.

In fact, she was jumping competitively at just 5 years old, albeit at a much lower level.

The transition to dressage competition came four years ago, when she wished to improve her posture on horses. Turns out, she liked it more than jumping.

"In dressage, you have to know your horse (very well) and be as one with it," she said. "That's what I like the most."

Almeida has taken part in dressage competitions over the years and was chosen to be a member of the bronze-medal-winning Brazilian team at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Almeida qualified for the Olympics in May. She hopes more Brazilians see her and her team compete and want to learn to ride themselves.

The only other 16-year-old equestrian athlete in the Games' history was Maria Paula Bernal of Columbia, who competed in 1988.

Almeida said it has been her dream to compete in the Olympics. And despite failing to advance in the first round of the individual dressage competition, she called the experience satisfying and educational.

Her age, she admits, does receive a lot of attention. But as she puts it: "It's rather positive for me, as I can show the world that age doesn't matter, but what you do (with your dedication) does".

She said the years of traveling to international competitions has helped her mature quickly, giving her an advantage.

And as for the two hours a day that she spends riding? "It is something I really like to do, so I never get tired of it," she said.

To compete in the Olympics this year, Almeida took a year off of school to prepare. She will start her final year of high school this month, and she plans to get her college degree before taking up riding full-time.

She will continue training while in school, of course, and wants to compete in the 2010 World Cup and 2011 Pan American Games. Then it's on to London in 2012.

When asked if she had gotten the chance to travel around Hong Kong yet, Almeida replied with her eyes wide: "I like the food and shops here".

The New Town Plaza, in particular, caught her eye. And getting around has been very easy, with people "always willing to give me a helping hand".

(By Peggy Chan)

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