Tom McEwen

Team GB’s double eventing medallist Tom McEwen talks to Martha Terry about his superstar Toledo De Kerser, being almost too relaxed, and eating pizza on TV in the small hours

- Martha Terry

TOM MCEWEN is someone you’d want on your side in a crisis. Not that Britain’s eventing team ever had a moment’s worry as the trio sauntered to victory in Tokyo, but the nation’s 49-year wait for another Olympic team gold had built up some momentum. But while the fans go wild, such a colossal achievement looks unlikely to go to Tom’s head. Back home the day after bagging team gold and individual silver medals with the superstar Toledo De Kerser, the 30-year-old is quietly rather than effusively ecstatic.

He has enjoyed a party with his family and support team; he’s visited his parents, and – when we speak 48 hours after that brilliant performance – he had just arrived at his Gatcombe yard ready to ride out the next generation of potential Olympians.

“Luckily I have some young horses who’ll be out competing next week,” he says. “I do need that pressure.”

Tom’s ability to thrive when the chips are down is a massive asset in the hothouse of an Olympics. Britain’s team of three five-star winners started the firm favourites, making a potential slip-up all the more discomfiting.

“Although all our horses are incredible, there was even more pressure being expected to win, because there had been such stiff competition for places on the team,” Tom says. “There was another team back home that could have produced as good a result, so we had to prove they took the right horses.”

But Tom relished the Olympic fever.

“I’d quite happily jump under that sort of pressure every day of the week,” he says. “I love it; it’s why I do it – it pushes me harder.