HUA Tian

General
STABLES
He and his partner Sarah Higgins run Pinfold Stables near Knutsford, England. (Facebook page, 04 Feb 2023; new, 09 Sep 2022; equitrader-online, 02 Nov 2021)

FAMILY BACKGROUND
His father is Chinese and was involved in the aviation industry, while his British mother was born into a Scottish military family. His parents moved to the United Kingdom from Hong Kong, China when Alex was age 10, and he attended Eton College near London. He took a year out of his school studies in order to compete at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. "I've always been very comfortable with a foot in both China and the UK and been quite secure in my identity, even though if you asked me what that was I still wouldn't be able to give you a direct answer." (thehorseridersjournal, 08 Aug 2016; reuters, 10 May 2016; olympic, 24 Sep 2014)

OLYMPIC DEBUT
He became the first athlete to represent the People's Republic of China in eventing at the Olympic Games in 2008, but did not complete the competition as he was thrown from his horse during the cross-country phase. "It was a fairy tale really, and the fairy tale ended when I fell off in Hong Kong at the cross-country. It was a real heartbreaking moment personally for me. But without that experience and investment I wouldn't be here now, doing it professionally. Although at the time it was a really devastating blow, it's something that I have to thank a lot for because it gave me a taste but it didn't give me everything. Looking back on it now [speaking in 2020] I think I've got more out of falling off at the Olympics than I would have done if I'd finished 50th or whatever. I very much felt after that I still had something to prove, which is why I'm still here." (horseandhound, 08 Oct 2020; reuters, 10 May 2016)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has worked as an ambassador for the Red Cross, and also co-founded the charity called 'Horsemanship' in the People's Republic of China. "The charity is all about changing perceptions and connecting communities with equestrianism. We run programmes with as many grassroots riding schools as possible. And we connect these riding schools with children from wealthy families but also children from local communities who cannot afford lessons." (xinhuanet, 11 Nov 2020; telegraph, 19 Feb 2018; qq, 24 Mar 2012; alexhuatian.co.uk, 2010)

At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, he became the first rider representing the People's Republic of China to compete in an Olympic equestrian event. (SportsDeskOnline, 29 Jul 2018; 163, 12 Nov 2010)

He is the first athlete representing the People's Republic of China to have won an individual medal in an equestrian sport at the Asian Games, claiming silver in eventing at the 2014 Games in Incheon, Republic of Korea. (SportsDeskOnline, 29 Jul 2018; sohu, 24 Oct 2014)