Tokyo Olympics: Thomas Heffernan Ho fulfils late father’s dream, hoping to inspire the next generation of Hong Kong riders
- After a team bronze at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, the 32-year-old rider’s father wanted his son and loyal horse Tayberry to make history at the Tokyo Games
- Ho and Tayberry – the oldest horse in the field – became the first Hong Kong combination to qualify for the Olympics, finishing 42nd in eventing
Thomas Heffernan Ho fulfilled his late father’s dream, successfully completing his first Olympics eventing competition as he looks ahead to the Paris Games in 2024.
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“It was an incredible experience, the chance of a lifetime,” said Ho, who became the first Hong Kong rider to qualify for the Olympics eventing competition.
“Tayberry tried his heart out and we are very happy with the results. It was always my dad’s dream for Tayberry and I to get to the Olympics and I’m honoured to represent Hong Kong.”
After the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, Fred Ho – who died five years ago – hoped his son and Tayberry would qualify for the Olympics. So the eventer put a career in hotel management on hold to chase the dream, admitting he had a stressful time having to qualify twice after the 2020 Games were delayed by a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.