- Chris Burton won a silver medal in equestrian
- Revealed all he wants to do is have a beer
- Says interview would’ve been better hungover
Australian equestrian silver medallist Chris Burton has revealed that he just wants ‘to have a beer’ with friends and family in a hilarious interview in which he told journalists to interview him later on when he’d be badly hungover.
The 42-year-old Queenslander had ditched his show-jumping speciality for another shot at eventing this year, and his switch paid off handsomely as he steered new horse Shadow Man to second place.
Burton, now based in the UK, was third overnight after the dressage and cross country but moved into the silver position after Monday morning’s show jumping qualifying round.
Then, on a blazingly hot afternoon against the majestic backdrop of the Chateau de Versailles, the fledgling combination cleared all 12 fences in the finale.
‘I’m a bit surprised you didn’t want to do these interviews tomorrow because we normally hungover and they are the best interviews you’ll ever get,’ Burton told Fox Sports Australia.
‘I don’t know why you want to hear from a sober eventing guy.
‘I’ve been whisked away, I’ve been taken for a urine sample, I’ve been taken from press conference to press conference asking the same generic crap.
‘All I want to do is see my mates and colleagues on the team and my wife and family and have a beer but I’ll catch up, don’t worry.’
Chris Burton (pictured) says he just wants ‘to have a beer’ with friends and family to celebrate his unexpected individual equestrian eventing silver medal
Burton couldn’t understand why reporters wanted to speak to him while he was still sober after he won Australia’s third silver medal of the Paris Olympics
German great Michael Jung prevailed on 21.80 penalty points, 0.60 clear of Burton. Laura Collett, who’d earlier led Britain to the team title, finished third on 23.10.
Remarkably, Burton and Shadow Man only had their first competition in March, after owner and rider Ben Hobday – believing he had no chance of making the Olympics himself amid huge UK competition – loaned the horse for six months to his pal in a rare display of equestrian ‘Ashes’ co-operation.
Burton, who’d won team bronze in Rio eight years ago, had moved into show jumping but decided on one more crack at eventing with the gift horse that Hobday convinced him was ‘the best in the world’.
‘I took a little break from eventing, so it’s really nice to come back and have this happen. Just right now, I can’t help but think I’m a lucky man,’ said the popular figure known to his teammates as ‘Burto’.
Burton (pictured with sons Harry and Jack) said an interview with him while he’s hungover would’ve been better for the media
The loan idea was first discussed in January, with Burton admitting his wife Rebekah wasn’t happy about a return to the treacherous eventing world.
‘Bear in mind, I had a wife very cross with me for putting her through all of this. I joke about that, but she’s been amazing. She made it happen,’ explained Burton, who reckoned Bek had assembled the whirlwind, global program that enabled him to qualify.
As for Shadow Man? ‘An amazing horse to ride. Isn’t he a machine? Isn’t he a delight? He just springs off the ground, he’s got scope and he’s got care and he’s a pleasure,’ beamed Burton.
‘I spotted him years ago. I always knew he was that good. We just tried twice to buy him and Ben was too much in love with him to sell him – and I can understand it.’