Episode 4 Natural Born Winners


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What does it take to be the best?

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Around the world,

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sports steeped in tradition create their champions...

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..men who master speed, skill,

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endurance, and the will to win.

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Four modern sporting heroes are about to

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put themselves to the test...

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HE GROANS

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..Gareth Thomas, Welsh rugby legend...

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You don't want to lose. Nobody wants to lose. It hurts.

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..Donovan Bailey, the Olympic gold-medal sprinter...

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Every single day I get up and I have a goal.

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..James Toseland, two times World Superbike Champion...

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There's always a will to win.

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I hate losing, I've always hated losing,

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but I'm not planning on losing.

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..and Iwan Thomas, whose British 400m record has never been broken.

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I've always been a competitor.

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I think I always will have that natural need to win.

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They'll travel to the four corners of the Earth...

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Wow, look at that.

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..to take on some of the world's great challenges.

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Whoa!

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It's super dangerous.

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God, it's like being on death row.

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They're about to find out who's got what it takes...

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For real, this is combat.

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..to triumph against the odds.

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HE YELLS

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They'll compete to be the best...

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I love it. I didn't realise how much I missed it.

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..but who will crumble? HE YELLS

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I'm not in. You're not in? I'm not in, no.

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Ah... Oh, I just want to die.

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And who's got what it takes to win?

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That is the scariest thing I have ever done.

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For their third challenge...

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Look at that, three on a moped.

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..the sportsmen were in India,

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competing in the ancient martial art of Kalari.

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Wicked.

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As they trained against experts with stick and shield...

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That was pure aggression.

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..sprinter Donovan's speed helped him in practice...

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This is excellent.

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Speed and accuracy are what this is all about.

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..and Gareth, with one win to his name, fought hard. Ah!

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Gareth looks like he's going to take someone's bloody head off.

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But, on competition day, when they fought each other...

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I knew he'd come at me quite hard.

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..James got top marks...

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That was really good.

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Yeah, I really enjoyed that. It was nice to win.

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..which puts the superbike champion on two wins out of three.

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The final and toughest challenge the four men face is Yabusame -

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Japanese horseback archery.

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Rooted in the brutal and ritualistic world of the samurai warriors,

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it's still revered today.

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Galloping down a straight track at high speed,

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using just balance to control the horses,

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the archers take aim at targets using the traditional Yabusame bow.

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For the sportsmen, it will be a true samurai test,

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as they compete against each other.

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Who can achieve clarity of mind, and conquer their fear?

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MAN YELLS

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CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

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When they arrive in Japan,

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the sportsmen will have a week to train in the art of Yabusame.

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They'll be expected to ride at speed while holding a bow,

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but their training starts in the UK,

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where the novices are about to get a lesson in

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the basics of firing an arrow while sitting on a moving horse.

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Come on, then, guys.

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OK, then, hold your bow in the middle,

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with the lashings more or less equidistant between your fist,

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and secure the arrow to the bow.

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Pull, and you'll hear the click.

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Beautiful work.

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Time to get in the mind of a samurai.

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The whole way of living, the whole understanding of it,

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is going to be extremely difficult

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because it's so completely different to the way we all live our lives.

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When it comes to shooting, lift your elbow to make a nice line

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between your elbow and down the arrow.

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LAUGHTER

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I missed completely on my first one.

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That didn't go down well,

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so I've not talked for about 20 minutes.

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Thumb and finger.

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Oh, you didn't pull until you heard the click, yeah?

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Have a shoot. Hey, beautiful.

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We're going to be expected to learn fast, so I think this is

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going to be mentally and physically the most challenging for me.

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Before we get on the horses,

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we're going to learn what to do if we fall off.

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LAUGHTER OK, feet out of your stirrups.

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The feet out of the stirrups, let go of that, lean back...

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Arms in. Arms in!

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As you come off the horse,

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actually get away from it with a little push of your hips.

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LAUGHTER

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That's it. Off you go. Lovely.

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Ugh!

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Just like a thump, weren't it?

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Is your crash mat all right?

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I've never been on a horse,

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and I've never shot a bow.

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Come on, Bailey.

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Yay. Beautiful. Good. Lovely.

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I know nothing about the samurai culture,

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other than what I've seen in the movies.

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HE SIGHS For Gareth, just getting on a horse

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could be his biggest challenge yet.

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How are you feeling, Gareth? Are you all right, pal?

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Gareth, are you all right, mate?

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I'm just silently taking myself to a happy place. Are you?

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If you concentrate on your archery more than anything else,

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it might take your mind off that you're on a horse.

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Donovan said that. Donovan's words were, "Just imagine it's a bike."

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Yep. That's great imagination

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when I'm sitting on a breathing, living horse. A furry bike.

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Turn back, and there's a bike.

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That's exactly what you've got to do.

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OK, they are not small horses.

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Put your foot in the stirrup.

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Don't worry about going up,

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and your leg will come over automatically. There.

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Sit gently, that's it.

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Bob your foot in there.

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I'm wondering how long it's going to be before you breathe.

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I feel for Gareth a bit, because he's clearly...

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I mean, I don't feel the most comfortable -

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it's my second time on a horse - but he's clearly very frightened.

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Sit tight. Don't worry.

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We're going to go for a little walk. BLEEP, but!

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Relax. Sit up.

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I can only imagine what he is going through now, thinking,

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let alone sit on the horse,

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but then have to think about loading the arrows correctly, shooting...

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When they arrive in Japan,

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they'll face an intense samurai training in accuracy,

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discipline and speed...

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That was pretty good.

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..but, today, the boys are just getting used to riding down

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an archery track without holding the reins.

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I've only cantered and galloped once,

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and that was an experience, but it's doing it with no reins,

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because obviously they're your brakes and your steering wheel,

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so to do it without that is going to be a bit of a daunting experience.

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Step one - shooting at walking pace while the horse is led.

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Every slightest twitch that happens within that horse

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scares the living crap out of me,

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because I think it's going to do something that I'm not prepared for,

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so, for me, this is just kind of like chewing barbed wire.

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I've just got to, like, really slowly but painfully get through it.

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OK, sit up straight. Relax your shoulders.

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GARETH GROANS

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Ready? All right, Jupiter,

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I want three bull's-eyes, my son. Come on, then. Three bull's-eyes.

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No pressure. SHE LAUGHS

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This is more of a sport where I think it's

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a mind battle with yourself, to get over the fear of the horse,

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to get over the lack of experience, really,

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but then just trust what we're being taught.

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Point down, and shoot when you're in the middle. Good. Good!

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Well done. Good.

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Oh, yeah, get in. Next one. SHE LAUGHS

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Good. Oh, good shot.

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Gold. Very nice. With a keen eye,

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Iwan's marking himself out as an early favourite...

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Right, I'm going to bring him to trot,

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and then you can get your arrow ready. Ready? Mm-hmm. OK. Yep.

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Come on, pick up, come on. Come on.

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Off you go. Good.

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..but Gareth's already had enough of horses, and has turned pundit.

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GARETH: Donovan, he's doing this strange motion.

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Now, I don't claim to be an expert horse rider, but if I've seen...

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I'd be worried about what he's doing.

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OK.

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HORSE SNORTS Off you go. Lovely.

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The first taste of horseback archery

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has done nothing for Gareth's confidence.

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Fear is not the word.

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The potential of what a horse has, I have an understanding of... Right.

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..and I don't want it to do what it can do when I'm on its back,

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so the least amount of time I'm on its back,

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the least chance it has of...

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You've got to be at one with the horse, my friend.

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Relax, rhythm, move with it...

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The next time they saddle up will be in Japan.

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Cheers, pal. Cheers, guys. Yep, cheers, dudes.

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Cheers. Cheers to a good trip so far, guys.

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Cheers, boys. Cheers, cheers, cheers.

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As they face their final challenge,

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the men's thoughts turn to life after sport.

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You retired the earliest... Right.

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..but you've been retired the longest. Yeah.

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When this was presented to me,

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I thought, "Oh, man, you know, life's been great.

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"Playing golf and smoking a good Cuban cigar on the golf course

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"is fantastic, but when I was competing, like,

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"I felt alive every single day."

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STARTING GUN FIRES It's almost 20 years

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since Donovan conquered the world.

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CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

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What drove you, though?

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Cos, obviously, to be an Olympic champion,

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you've got to have something in there, the fire in there,

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to burn brightly, to actually achieve that level.

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I was blessed with speed from when I was young.

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I didn't really work very hard at it.

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What, even when you were champion? Yeah, even when I was champion.

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You must have trained most days, and... I trained every day,

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but I realise also that I could have worked harder. You know...

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But that might have led to injuries, you never know.

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Maybe, if you'd done those extra few sessions,

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your body would have started breaking more than it did.

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CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

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Iwan's career was plagued with injury after

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just three years at the top.

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Well, it happened for me, like, young.

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I'd had a medal from every championship by the time I was 23.

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You know, I was tipped to be the next best,

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and then I started getting injuries,

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and I kept thinking, "No, I can get back. One more good season."

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And then, for me, the final nail in the coffin,

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I wanted to go to the Commonwealth Games in 2006, hopefully win,

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and retire, and literally two weeks before

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I'm due to fly out to Australia, I tore my hamstring.

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I've never been on the track since. Really?

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I didn't achieve my potential - 100%.

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CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

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Gareth became the first player to earn 100 caps for Wales,

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and retired at 36 after fulfilling his ambition.

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When I watch a game of rugby now, I admire what I'm watching,

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and people say, "Oh, my God, you must miss that." Ah, here, touch me!

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"That 80,000..." Oh! I love this.

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No, seriously. I do! "You must sit here..." They go like that,

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"You must miss that 80,000 people. You must miss that."

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And I'm like, "Do you know what? They are the now.

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"I was... I was five years ago." Yup.

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ENGINES HUM

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After several high-speed crashes and major surgery,

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James could no longer physically race,

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and he was forced to retire at 30.

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For me, losing racing was...was... was like a bereavement.

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It was like I'd lost something, someone, really special.

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How long... How long did the grieving take?

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Well, it's still going, I think, you know? Right.

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Like any... Like grieving, you know?

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The world champion, at that point in time, was 40 years old, you know,

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and I was only 30, so... Right.

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Luckily, I mean, I was forced to retire early,

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but I was very, very satisfied of doing what I'd done.

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All that matters is you can look yourself in the mirror

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and you've given it your all.

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The four sporting heroes have arrived in Tokyo.

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Tomorrow, they'll begin their final challenge.

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This is how I expected Tokyo to be - absolutely crazy.

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It's just bonkers. It's like I've gone to another planet.

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I'm in Mars or something.

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MUSIC: Gold by Spandau Ballet

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# Gold Always believe in your soul... #

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And for once, even Gareth is embracing the culture.

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# Always believing... #

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I am so not homesick, which for me is crazy,

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cos I get homesick before I leave home,

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but, I've got here, and it just seems like there's so much to do

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that you take your mind off being homesick,

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because you're constantly...

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There's constantly something happening in front of you.

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But the scale of the task ahead is beginning to sink in.

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In a few days' time, I'm going to be travelling on a horse at 40mph

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and letting go of the brakes, basically,

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and trying to get a bow and arrow sorted out.

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It's going to be pretty intense.

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I think everyone's going to go for gold on this one,

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and, you know, no-one as hard as me.

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# Always believing. #

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Next day, the boys are at the Kamakura Shrine outside Tokyo.

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It's their first chance to see Yabusame close up.

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Here you are, my first taste of Japanese food.

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Thank you.

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Once a year, the masters of Yabusame demonstrate their skills here,

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in front of a devoted crowd.

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Kiyomoto Ogasawara is among the riders today.

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He belongs to one of the most revered families in Japan,

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and can trace his samurai ancestry back for nearly 1,000 years.

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Kiyomoto has agreed to accept the sportsmen as pupils.

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They start tomorrow in his private dojo.

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Strict traditions surround Yabusame.

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HORSE WHINNIES The preparation rituals and dressing

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can take up to eight hours.

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HORSE SNORTS

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Horseback archery wasn't just for battle -

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it was a test of samurai warriors' focus and discipline.

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APPLAUSE

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The speed they came down at was frightening,

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and the targets seemed to be so small,

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so the margin for error was tiny.

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APPLAUSE

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I'm watching it and going, "Yeah, I can do that."

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The speed thing doesn't bother me whatsoever.

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CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

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But the faster they went, then the more impressive it became,

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but obviously the more difficult it became.

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APPLAUSE

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It's an amazing sport to actually watch,

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and see how fast it is - see how precise it is.

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COMMENTATOR SPEAKS JAPANESE

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At the ceremony,

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the sportsmen are forbidden to speak to Master Kiyomoto...

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Nice to meet you. Yes, we'll be here tomorrow.

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OK, no problem.

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..but his assistants give them instructions

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for tomorrow's training.

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It's, like, how many times do you bow?

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There wasn't many smiles coming from

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the guy who was going to be training us.

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I don't think he'll be taking this lightly.

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I think they're here to show us how to do the job properly,

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and honour them by us giving it everything we've got.

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By the end of the week,

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Master Kiyomoto will judge his new students

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as they compete against each other in standing archery

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and horseback archery.

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The Ogasawara clan have practised Yabusame archery since 1187,

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and training's about to start at the family's Tokyo dojo.

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HE SPEAKS JAPANESE

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The four sportsmen are about to transform into trainee samurai...

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They're real comfy.

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LAUGHTER

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..but every detail matters.

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There's even a right way to fold a sock.

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Mate, I feel amazing. I feel like I just want to...

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poke your eyes out. Oh, yeah? Discipline. Hey, hey, hey.

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Discipline it. Hold it in.

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It turns out there's a lot to get through

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before the boys are allowed anywhere near a bow and arrow.

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SHE SPEAKS JAPANESE

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So, basically, hold this incense holder,

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and you have to turn anti-clockwise twice,

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and then have a quick smell.

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Breathe in,

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and then put this incense holder to the next person.

0:19:060:19:09

I hate all, like, the routines and the rituals,

0:19:120:19:17

and sitting down and...

0:19:170:19:18

It's like, "Oh, God, just give me an horse and a bow and arrow.

0:19:180:19:21

"Let's have a go."

0:19:210:19:23

Good smell?

0:19:240:19:26

Mmm, yummy.

0:19:260:19:29

There's smells in every sport.

0:19:290:19:31

There's a smell of, like, Deep Heat. There's a smell of sweat.

0:19:310:19:34

There's a smell of mud.

0:19:340:19:35

So, when you smell that smell, it's time to switch on.

0:19:350:19:39

Whereas, I think in this they use it to try

0:19:390:19:41

and calm themselves down, which I'm not sure I, kind of, get,

0:19:410:19:44

because I think if you go into any sort of competition,

0:19:440:19:47

then you go into it, kind of, geed up, adrenaline going,

0:19:470:19:51

so I'm not understanding the smelling part of it.

0:19:510:19:55

Formal incense ceremonies were used by the samurai to achieve calm,

0:19:580:20:03

and to enhance control in life and battle.

0:20:030:20:07

The precise way of the samurai has struck a chord with Donovan.

0:20:070:20:12

I have control issues,

0:20:120:20:13

and I think that being in a controlled environment,

0:20:130:20:16

whether it's controlled by me or someone else,

0:20:160:20:18

definitely allows life to be much easier for me.

0:20:180:20:21

I guess I'm a little bit of a neat freak.

0:20:210:20:23

I have to let go of stuff quite often,

0:20:230:20:25

because I'm not very easy to live with.

0:20:250:20:28

I do like things done a certain way.

0:20:280:20:30

Suits have to be colour-coordinated,

0:20:300:20:32

and white shirts stay on the white-shirt side,

0:20:320:20:35

and then the colours have to go in sequence.

0:20:350:20:41

But the samurai way is more than just a state of mind.

0:20:410:20:44

Please bend forward.

0:20:440:20:46

Everything, even walking, must be done perfectly.

0:20:460:20:50

Gareth is doing really well.

0:20:500:20:51

Oh, gracias.

0:20:510:20:52

"Gracias"? LAUGHTER

0:20:520:20:56

To be told that I have a natural talent for bowing, you know,

0:20:560:21:00

opens another door for me, I think.

0:21:000:21:02

Backs straight. Yes, great. Oh, I understand now.

0:21:020:21:07

The bow to, like, the master has to be right,

0:21:070:21:11

so, I suppose, as important as archery is, which...

0:21:110:21:14

it's as if they're like meaningless things,

0:21:140:21:16

but you learn to understand they're not meaningless -

0:21:160:21:19

they're actually quite important.

0:21:190:21:20

Gareth, you're doing really well.

0:21:200:21:22

Oh, am I? Oh, thank you.

0:21:220:21:25

At last, downstairs in the dojo, the sportsmen are given their bows.

0:21:310:21:36

But even firing an arrow comes with its own set of rules.

0:21:380:21:44

Ichi, ni, san...

0:21:440:21:47

They must follow precise steps and observe in silence.

0:21:470:21:51

Shot. Perfect. Boom.

0:21:560:21:58

I think there's just too many formalities, aren't there?

0:22:040:22:07

I mean, it's one thing,

0:22:070:22:09

practising on your feet not on a horse,

0:22:090:22:12

but you've got to breathe in and out for half the string,

0:22:120:22:15

breathe in and out and look at the target.

0:22:150:22:17

I like the discipline,

0:22:170:22:18

but I don't see why we have to learn all these little finicky things.

0:22:180:22:22

And then look here, and then face this way,

0:22:240:22:28

and then put left, right,

0:22:280:22:31

and then you have a bow.

0:22:310:22:34

Finally, Master Kiyomoto allows them to take a shot...

0:22:340:22:38

And loose your finger, yeah.

0:22:400:22:41

Yep. More? Lift it up.

0:22:410:22:44

Lift, push, let go.

0:22:440:22:46

Yep.

0:22:460:22:47

..but no more than two arrows each.

0:22:510:22:53

Are you hating Japan, then?

0:23:040:23:06

I'm not hating Japan, no, I wouldn't say that, but I'm hating the rules.

0:23:060:23:10

I have never seen you so frustrated and so negative towards a sport.

0:23:100:23:15

To be expected to be able to ride a horse at gallop speed

0:23:150:23:18

whilst firing three arrows,

0:23:180:23:21

I'm like, "Well, you know, teach me that."

0:23:210:23:23

I do not want to be three days folding clothes -

0:23:230:23:28

I want to be three days riding a horse. Right.

0:23:280:23:30

Honestly, I do not want my mum and my wife to realise

0:23:300:23:33

I can fold clothes that well, either.

0:23:330:23:35

Of course not. Of course not.

0:23:350:23:37

The next day brings an early start back at the dojo.

0:23:450:23:49

This time, Master Kiyomoto gets the boys straight down to business,

0:23:490:23:53

training for their standing archery showdown.

0:23:530:23:56

It's definitely game on.

0:23:560:23:58

The topknot's going in, and I'm going to be like Robin Hood.

0:23:580:24:02

Now the trainees are embracing folding samurai-style.

0:24:020:24:05

Are you folding them in half or are you leaving them out straight?

0:24:050:24:08

What you do is, the humidity just, kind of,

0:24:080:24:10

naturally just lets the creases settle for a minute.

0:24:100:24:12

GARETH LAUGHS Oh, my God, JT's back in the room.

0:24:120:24:16

James has got it all. Look at him.

0:24:210:24:23

He didn't think he'd learned anything yesterday.

0:24:230:24:25

He came in, like, "Oh, my God, I just happened to remember

0:24:250:24:28

"everything they told me yesterday."

0:24:280:24:29

It's like, what a surprise.

0:24:290:24:31

He's like the Eric Bristow of the bow-and-arrow world.

0:24:310:24:34

Everybody's come today, enthused,

0:24:350:24:37

but more with a willingness to learn.

0:24:370:24:40

It's been a little bit competitive,

0:24:400:24:42

which is always still really good,

0:24:420:24:44

because, you know, if JT was going first and he hit it,

0:24:440:24:46

then I'd be going, "OK, I'd better get it, the next,"

0:24:460:24:49

so there's still that edge of competitiveness within it.

0:24:490:24:52

Yeah! Oh.

0:24:530:24:55

Oh.

0:24:550:24:57

I'm not allowed to smile or nothing, am I? I forgot about that.

0:24:570:25:00

But I hit bull's-eye. Didn't I hit bull's-eye? Yeah.

0:25:000:25:02

See? Even she's going, "Whoop-whoop."

0:25:020:25:04

She's never done a whoop-whoop in her life.

0:25:040:25:06

Training for horseback archery begins, like everything so far,

0:25:060:25:11

by going back to basics.

0:25:110:25:13

Oh, ouch. Oh, it hurts my bum.

0:25:150:25:17

DONOVAN GROANS

0:25:250:25:27

Feeling OK. No, I'm good. OK?

0:25:360:25:38

And, although Gareth's giving the wooden horse a go,

0:25:520:25:55

the real thing is a very different matter.

0:25:550:25:59

My experience with horses, from day one,

0:25:590:26:01

have been disastrous for me

0:26:010:26:04

because, as soon as I get on a horse, then I get nervy, I freeze,

0:26:040:26:08

and I don't enjoy being on a horse.

0:26:080:26:10

So I think, you know, I'm not going to do the horseback archery,

0:26:100:26:13

because it's way beyond my capabilities of, like,

0:26:130:26:17

being able to conquer the fear of it.

0:26:170:26:19

Gareth is refusing to fire a bow from a horse, but he will still

0:26:210:26:25

take on the others in the upcoming standing archery competition.

0:26:250:26:29

The next morning, the former Welsh captain is taking a flight home.

0:26:370:26:41

He'll miss the next two days' training.

0:26:410:26:43

I don't want to leave the boys,

0:26:430:26:44

but I'm going to go back to commentate on the first game

0:26:440:26:47

of the World Cup for Wales, which is massively important to me.

0:26:470:26:51

It's gutting, and I don't want to leave them.

0:26:510:26:53

Potentially I'll come back and they'll be so far ahead,

0:26:530:26:56

but I can't turn down the opportunity of going back to Wales

0:26:560:26:58

and commentating on the first game of the World Cup for them.

0:26:580:27:02

He'll be back in two days' time

0:27:020:27:04

to take on the others at standing archery.

0:27:040:27:07

100 miles north of Tokyo,

0:27:180:27:21

Iwan, Donovan and James have begun training on horseback.

0:27:210:27:25

Please.

0:27:250:27:27

Master Kiyomoto is wasting no time.

0:27:270:27:30

Stand. Stand.

0:27:340:27:36

Stand straight. Straight, please. Straight. Straight.

0:27:360:27:39

When you're sitting six, seven feet up on the back of a horse...

0:27:410:27:45

OK.

0:27:450:27:46

..trying to do exercise and aerobics and doing 360s and reaching back,

0:27:460:27:50

and reaching around and hugging a horse, it's very difficult...

0:27:500:27:53

OK. OK.

0:27:530:27:54

..and it's quite scary, actually.

0:27:540:27:56

MAN SPEAKS JAPANESE

0:27:560:27:58

Here we go, boss.

0:27:580:28:01

I can't see now.

0:28:010:28:02

LAUGHTER Have I got to spin?

0:28:020:28:05

I mean, it's great to be on the horse,

0:28:200:28:23

but I am right now at maximum of being on the horse,

0:28:230:28:26

and how much I want to learn,

0:28:260:28:29

because of my fear of everything going sideways.

0:28:290:28:33

After less than an hour, Donovan decides he's had enough.

0:28:330:28:37

Thanks for the lesson, but this is where I stop.

0:28:370:28:40

HE SPEAKS JAPANESE

0:28:400:28:43

WOMAN: Does it hurt too much?

0:28:430:28:44

Yeah, and I'm scared, yes.

0:28:440:28:47

Hai. OK? All right.

0:28:470:28:49

Donovan will focus on standing archery,

0:28:490:28:52

and get ready to take on Gareth...

0:28:520:28:54

..but James and Iwan press on with horseback training.

0:28:560:28:59

Release the left hand, and the right hand, both.

0:29:120:29:17

I couldn't believe that,

0:29:200:29:22

after, like, two or three circuits, we were trotting.

0:29:220:29:25

And both hands.

0:29:250:29:27

Then we were cantering none-handed,

0:29:270:29:29

and, like, Kiyomoto, I don't know if he was thinking,

0:29:290:29:31

"Look, boys, you're either going to get the hang of this in a couple

0:29:310:29:34

"of days or you're not going to be entered in my competition,"

0:29:340:29:37

or what, but they don't seem to have much mercy, these samurais, do they?

0:29:370:29:40

OK, so, get off the horse.

0:29:400:29:43

OK. Good boy. HE GROANS

0:29:430:29:45

The only thing that scares me is the seat, in terms of -

0:29:480:29:51

I'm not being rude -

0:29:510:29:52

I won't walk properly for a week after this. It is hard.

0:29:520:29:54

I think the game changer is going to be when we get

0:29:540:29:56

a bow and arrow in his hand.

0:29:560:29:58

Yeah, and it's not just concentrating on just holding on.

0:29:580:30:00

You're now concentrating not to hit a kid in the crowd -

0:30:000:30:03

you've got to hit a target.

0:30:030:30:05

Another day, another dollar.

0:30:140:30:15

Me too. On the wooden saddle.

0:30:150:30:18

Mine are sore, are yours? Yeah, very.

0:30:180:30:21

Next day,

0:30:210:30:22

there's one more crucial lesson for the boys before competition day.

0:30:220:30:26

As they take aim, archers are expected to shout a ritual cry.

0:30:260:30:32

You're kind of shouting, "Light, dark, light and dark."

0:30:320:30:36

I think you're trying to hit the target, which embraces the two,

0:30:360:30:40

kind of like the Yin and the Yang but, by hitting the target,

0:30:400:30:42

you just make the world complete, so it's actually quite meaningful.

0:30:420:30:46

In-yoi!

0:30:480:30:50

In-yoi! In-yoi!

0:30:520:30:56

In-yoi!

0:31:000:31:02

In-yoi! In-yoi!

0:31:050:31:09

I've heard some things in my time,

0:31:100:31:12

but Iwan's, "In-yoi, in-yoi, in-yoi, in-yoi,"

0:31:120:31:14

well, I nearly fell off my horse.

0:31:140:31:18

Is it a good volume?

0:31:180:31:20

A bit too loud, JT, was it?

0:31:200:31:22

Even Sensei's laughing at me.

0:31:220:31:24

No problem.

0:31:240:31:25

He's trying to say I should be more manly, yeah?

0:31:250:31:27

IN DEEP VOICE: In-yoi! Like this? In-yoi!

0:31:270:31:32

OK, I can do that.

0:31:320:31:33

In-yoi! In-yoi!

0:31:360:31:40

In-yoi! In-yoi!

0:31:440:31:47

This event's definitely the one where we've got to remember

0:31:470:31:50

and learn a lot in the shortest space of time.

0:31:500:31:54

To learn to ride a horse, to learn to do archery, to learn how to,

0:31:540:31:57

"ee-yoi, ee-yoi, ee-yoi," on top of a horse doing 40mph.

0:31:570:31:59

I mean, to do all that in a couple of days' training

0:31:590:32:02

is going to be pretty good going.

0:32:020:32:04

While James and Iwan get back on real horses,

0:32:080:32:11

Donovan's getting expert archery training.

0:32:110:32:14

Gareth and I are going to definitely take a shot.

0:32:160:32:18

We'll...we'll have a...

0:32:180:32:19

We'll definitely have an individual competition about that one,

0:32:190:32:22

but, yeah, I'm looking forward to the archery, for sure.

0:32:220:32:26

With just 24 hours to the competition...

0:32:310:32:34

Tall posture, elegance,

0:32:340:32:37

in-yoi, in-yoi...

0:32:370:32:39

Got this. We've got this.

0:32:390:32:40

..James and Iwan are now hard at work on the practice track.

0:32:400:32:44

In-yoi!

0:32:460:32:48

MAN SPEAKS JAPANESE

0:32:530:32:55

In-yoi!

0:33:090:33:10

Oh, poo.

0:33:140:33:16

HORSE SNORTS

0:33:160:33:18

And riding at speed is starting to bring back

0:33:180:33:21

long-buried memories for James.

0:33:210:33:23

I've not been on a motorbike for nearly five years now,

0:33:230:33:26

cos the wrist is so bad and, being here in Japan,

0:33:260:33:28

on a horse, it's just ignited that fire in my belly,

0:33:280:33:31

to wanting to go fast and have that excitement again.

0:33:310:33:34

Over the last five years I've been suppressing it,

0:33:380:33:40

cos I was annoying myself, I was needing it all the time,

0:33:400:33:44

but, here in Japan, it's been quite nice

0:33:440:33:45

opening that little box up again,

0:33:450:33:47

and wanting to go really, really fast,

0:33:470:33:50

and, I'll tell you what, these horses,

0:33:500:33:52

they're fast enough to give me that buzz.

0:33:520:33:55

Master Kiyomoto is confident that James can handle

0:33:550:33:58

a much faster horse.

0:33:580:33:59

James-san, how about this horse? No problem? Yeah, really good.

0:33:590:34:04

HE SPEAKS JAPANESE Try your horse? Yes.

0:34:040:34:07

Yeah, I'd love to.

0:34:070:34:08

The new horse is one which Master Kiyomoto himself

0:34:080:34:12

rides in competitions.

0:34:120:34:15

It's a huge step up.

0:34:150:34:16

Watching Master Kiyomoto just then, on that horse,

0:34:280:34:30

you really see first-hand that

0:34:300:34:33

you're riding something with its own mind.

0:34:330:34:38

He's a cool customer anyway, isn't he?

0:34:380:34:39

You know, just in general, you can see that he's a cool dude.

0:34:390:34:43

That's why he's good at what he does - you need that calmness -

0:34:450:34:48

and now going, looking back, with the discipline,

0:34:480:34:51

with the folding of the clothes, with the scent smelling,

0:34:510:34:54

and all the rest of it, watching him on that animal just then

0:34:540:34:57

makes me realise what that all is about,

0:34:570:34:59

because that's what the horse is feeling.

0:34:590:35:01

The horse is feeling that calmness,

0:35:010:35:03

feeling that control, and feeling that skill.

0:35:030:35:05

So, for you, stop this horse, back.

0:35:080:35:11

Back? Yes. OK.

0:35:110:35:12

OK. OK.

0:35:120:35:13

It's important. Yes. Very, very important.

0:35:130:35:16

I can see in your eyes. JAMES LAUGHS

0:35:160:35:18

KIYOMOTO CLICKS

0:35:220:35:25

Oh, BLEEP!

0:35:290:35:31

BLEEP, he's fast.

0:35:360:35:39

HE GIGGLES

0:35:390:35:43

I'm just frustrated with myself,

0:35:440:35:46

because he's a little bit ahead of me,

0:35:460:35:49

and, like, even on the fastest motorbike I ever rode,

0:35:490:35:53

it was never ahead of me - I always wanted to go faster -

0:35:530:35:56

but this fella's got me.

0:35:560:35:57

For the first time ever, I'm wanting to go slightly slower.

0:35:570:36:01

Master Kiyomoto has decided -

0:36:040:36:06

tomorrow James will ride the faster horse

0:36:060:36:09

as he goes head-to-head against Iwan in Yabusame.

0:36:090:36:12

Meanwhile, Donovan's taking every opportunity to

0:36:170:36:20

sharpen his technique.

0:36:200:36:22

It's competition day.

0:36:310:36:32

Crowds are gathering at the country park

0:36:350:36:37

where Yabusame demonstrations are always a big draw.

0:36:370:36:40

Master Kiyomoto has arranged for Iwan and James

0:36:470:36:50

to compete on the park's professional track...

0:36:500:36:53

..but the first challenge is a standing archery shoot-off,

0:37:000:37:05

and it looks like Donovan's the surprise favourite.

0:37:050:37:08

I try and pull her left, but she's staying very close to the right.

0:37:260:37:29

My feet are going to hit the post.

0:37:290:37:31

Obviously I'm a bit jittery cos it's competition day,

0:37:310:37:34

and I want my horse to be finely tuned. I need her to be.

0:37:340:37:36

HE CLICKS

0:37:360:37:39

I really want to do this today,

0:37:390:37:41

and I don't want anything in my mind.

0:37:410:37:43

Like, yesterday I felt great.

0:37:430:37:44

Today, all of a sudden, I'm feeling weird about

0:37:440:37:47

the centring of the horse, so, hopefully he'll fix her.

0:37:470:37:50

OK, so you want to just...

0:37:530:37:55

James is warming up, with four hours to go,

0:37:550:37:59

but there's news about the horse he was planning to ride.

0:37:590:38:01

OK. OK, OK.

0:38:110:38:14

So, it's competition day, and I've just found out that my usual horse,

0:38:180:38:22

which was a complete nutcase anyway, has got a cold,

0:38:220:38:26

and now I've got a brand-new nutcase to ride,

0:38:260:38:30

who's a little bit quick off the mark.

0:38:300:38:32

Yesterday I said I didn't want to go any faster, didn't I?

0:38:320:38:34

And, all of a sudden, erm, I've got to go quicker.

0:38:340:38:38

A last-minute change of horse could be risky.

0:38:380:38:41

Master Kiyomoto wants James to have a test run first.

0:38:410:38:44

Go.

0:38:580:39:00

Good.

0:39:160:39:17

That is the scariest thing I have ever done, ever.

0:39:260:39:31

Riding 220mph, jumping out of aeroplanes,

0:39:310:39:35

going in the Red Arrows -

0:39:350:39:36

that is officially the scariest thing I've ever done.

0:39:360:39:39

The race face has got to definitely come on now.

0:39:420:39:44

I'd closed the box on this feeling.

0:39:440:39:46

I didn't want to open it again,

0:39:480:39:50

but this has just upped the ante a bit, for sure, yeah.

0:39:500:39:53

Mate, two rides left, that's all you've got to think.

0:39:560:39:59

Two runs. Yeah, yeah.

0:39:590:40:00

Two competition runs, get through it,

0:40:000:40:03

pray to the samurai gods,

0:40:030:40:05

and have a whisky.

0:40:050:40:06

You'll be all right, mate.

0:40:060:40:08

Oh, there they are. Hola.

0:40:090:40:11

Hola! Coma estas?

0:40:110:40:13

Hey, hey, you go here.

0:40:130:40:14

Gareth's back from Wales just in time.

0:40:140:40:16

Nice to have you back. All right, bud?

0:40:160:40:18

Are you all right? Yeah. Welcome back.

0:40:180:40:21

How are you feeling about today, bud?

0:40:210:40:23

I don't know if I'm going to be able to tame this horse,

0:40:230:40:26

or even feel like I'm going to get control of it

0:40:260:40:29

before I have to do the event,

0:40:290:40:30

and I've had to open a box that I shut two or three years ago.

0:40:300:40:36

Just being so fully focused, then,

0:40:360:40:38

switching off about everything else and everyone else...

0:40:380:40:41

Yeah, yeah, it's, erm...

0:40:410:40:44

It's... You know, BLEEP, hang on.

0:40:440:40:46

HE SIGHS

0:40:510:40:53

Mate, I don't know if you should do this, bud.

0:40:560:40:59

I'm all right.

0:40:590:41:00

Has it freaked you out that much?

0:41:010:41:03

No, no, I just, just, just missed the emotion a bit, you know? Really?

0:41:030:41:06

But it's a good thing, I reckon, bud.

0:41:060:41:09

I loved it when I felt the emotions that I'd missed.

0:41:090:41:12

It's not often you'll be able to

0:41:120:41:13

feel them again in real life. I know. I know.

0:41:130:41:16

Yeah, this is the first thing that's...

0:41:180:41:20

really sparked that old, old feeling off.

0:41:200:41:23

Everything's ready.

0:41:300:41:33

For the first time in Japan,

0:41:330:41:34

the boys will be competing against each other.

0:41:340:41:37

For the next few hours, they'll be samurai.

0:41:420:41:45

It's just all of a sudden very real.

0:42:080:42:10

Is it going to be like India,

0:42:100:42:11

and everything steps up a little notch when it becomes a competition?

0:42:110:42:15

But the old ticker's going now, if I'm honest with you. I'm scared.

0:42:150:42:18

I found it very, very difficult to, erm...

0:42:200:42:22

to do something so difficult and so dangerous.

0:42:220:42:25

I've spent quite some time now calming down from what I used to be,

0:42:250:42:28

and I found it very...really difficult to turn that back on,

0:42:280:42:31

and it's shocked me, big time.

0:42:310:42:33

I'm all right, actually.

0:42:350:42:36

I'm excited and nervous for JT and Iwan,

0:42:360:42:39

cos I think they're doing the real testing thing.

0:42:390:42:42

I'm ready, and I'm going to give it what I've got.

0:42:420:42:46

Round one - all four sportsmen will aim to be the best

0:42:490:42:53

at standing archery.

0:42:530:42:54

Gareth.

0:43:030:43:05

Next, James, please.

0:43:370:43:39

Iwan.

0:43:480:43:50

Good shot, D.

0:44:040:44:06

Gareth, please.

0:44:170:44:18

HE GROANS

0:44:280:44:30

HE GROANS

0:44:320:44:34

Unlucky, mate.

0:44:380:44:39

Next up, Master Kiyomoto's favourite, Donovan.

0:44:390:44:43

HE EXHALES

0:44:460:44:49

Probably for the first time, I'm a little disappointed in myself,

0:44:490:44:52

because I'd hit that shot 10 times, 15 times,

0:44:520:44:55

20 times in the last 48 hours.

0:44:550:44:58

Now it's down to Iwan.

0:45:000:45:02

About time, innit? It was quite nerve-racking,

0:45:140:45:16

actually, getting up there. It's just you and the piece of wood.

0:45:160:45:19

You've got to really focus,

0:45:190:45:20

and I was really taking deep breaths before,

0:45:200:45:22

I was just, like... trying to compose myself,

0:45:220:45:24

but I just thought, "Right, this is my opportunity. I can win it."

0:45:240:45:27

I tried to relax, and got it, and it was just like,

0:45:270:45:29

"Well, I think that means I've won it."

0:45:290:45:31

But Master Kiyomoto has one last archery challenge for Iwan.

0:45:350:45:40

LAUGHTER

0:45:400:45:43

HE INHALES

0:45:470:45:49

HE EXHALES

0:45:490:45:52

HE SIGHS

0:45:560:45:59

At the end, an Ogasawara master steps up to show how it's done.

0:46:010:46:05

LAUGHTER Oh, yes!

0:46:130:46:15

That's how you do it, man. Class.

0:46:150:46:18

It was amazing, so, it just shows you,

0:46:180:46:20

you know, what can be done when you focus the mind,

0:46:200:46:22

and channel all that energy, and that's what he did. Awesome.

0:46:220:46:26

Round one's over, with Iwan in the lead.

0:46:330:46:37

Now he's going to take James on, as they attempt the Yabusame track.

0:46:370:46:42

I think I'm going to need a little bit of luck on this one,

0:46:420:46:44

but I've just walked up on the horse for a good five, ten minutes,

0:46:440:46:47

so I've been on the horse, you know,

0:46:470:46:49

and I felt like, you know, got a little bit more connection.

0:46:490:46:51

They'll have two runs each of the full-length track.

0:46:530:46:56

Master Kiyomoto will be judging their hits on target

0:46:560:46:59

and their samurai horsemanship when he decides the overall winner.

0:46:590:47:04

I don't want to look.

0:47:080:47:10

I don't wanna look, either. I'm shaking.

0:47:100:47:12

Oh, my God.

0:47:220:47:23

Come on, JT. Come on, JT. Oh...

0:47:330:47:35

James scores a hit, but misses the second target.

0:47:430:47:47

Well done, James. It's going such a speed, man.

0:47:470:47:50

Absolutely stops there - like, back there -

0:47:500:47:52

and it's pulling up there, and it doesn't want to stop. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

0:47:520:47:55

Do you see the difference in the horses? Right?

0:47:550:47:58

Your horse stops three steps after the signal. Yeah.

0:47:580:48:00

It's like, ping, uh, uh, OK.

0:48:000:48:02

Yeah, there's the speed.

0:48:020:48:04

In-yoi!

0:48:140:48:16

In-yoi! In-yoi!

0:48:210:48:23

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:48:260:48:29

Iwan manages to hit twice.

0:48:290:48:32

HE SIGHS AND HORSE NEIGHS Well done, bud. Good girl.

0:48:320:48:36

Come on, JT.

0:48:420:48:44

Oh, God.

0:48:440:48:46

Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Look at it, out of the block. Oh, my God.

0:48:460:48:49

On his second run, James misses twice.

0:49:010:49:06

Wow. JAMES EXHALES

0:49:060:49:08

You know, to go at the speed he went -

0:49:080:49:10

it was just phenomenal, I think,

0:49:100:49:12

to have the bravery to sit on that horse without his hands.

0:49:120:49:15

If anyone could be prepared to do something,

0:49:150:49:18

like, to the limits like that, then it's JT,

0:49:180:49:20

and I think he showed amazing courage to do it.

0:49:200:49:23

In-yoi! In-yoi!

0:49:390:49:42

APPLAUSE

0:49:460:49:48

Good girl, good girl.

0:49:480:49:50

Thank you, thank you.

0:49:500:49:52

Oh, thank God it's over.

0:49:520:49:55

Oh...

0:49:550:49:56

I got four out of four, and it was more than that for me,

0:49:560:49:59

it was just the fact that, phew, I finished, nothing's broken...

0:49:590:50:03

I think Sensei would be quite happy with

0:50:030:50:05

what he's done with us over the last few days.

0:50:050:50:07

HORSE NEIGHS I think we've showed him that

0:50:070:50:09

we have got something inside of us, you know?

0:50:090:50:12

If we're born with that competitive spirit,

0:50:120:50:14

or whether it's pushed into us at a young age,

0:50:140:50:16

I don't know what makes a successful person successful -

0:50:160:50:18

it's drive, and ambition, and determination and everything -

0:50:180:50:21

and myself and JT, today on those horses,

0:50:210:50:23

we've had to dig a bit deep to find that.

0:50:230:50:25

It's the last event, so, like, I'm buzzing.

0:50:250:50:28

Master Kiyomoto still has to judge which sportsman best embodied

0:50:290:50:34

the spirit of the samurai.

0:50:340:50:36

Who should win?

0:50:360:50:38

Well, you know what, if I'm going to go by all the rules...

0:50:380:50:41

of accuracy and hitting the targets, then certainly Iwan had his day,

0:50:410:50:44

but my emotional vote would certainly be JT,

0:50:440:50:47

just because he did something that none of us are capable of doing,

0:50:470:50:51

with extremely limited practice.

0:50:510:50:53

What he did today...

0:50:530:50:55

I mean, I'm sure that if you gave JT, you know,

0:50:550:50:58

a couple of other days on that horse,

0:50:580:50:59

he'd be able to do the same thing that Iwan did.

0:50:590:51:02

Mate, I am never, ever going to go near a horse again in my life.

0:51:110:51:17

That is it. Done.

0:51:170:51:20

I can't say that. That was a buzz.

0:51:200:51:23

HE SIGHS

0:51:230:51:25

In-yoi! In-yoi!

0:51:280:51:32

Do you know what?

0:51:320:51:34

That horse reminds me of my old self.

0:51:340:51:37

I used to be a coiled spring just like that

0:51:370:51:39

and, you know, waking up and having the opportunity to achieve

0:51:390:51:43

everything that you want to achieve in life, and be a world champion.

0:51:430:51:46

There's selfishness, there's determination,

0:51:460:51:49

there's an absolute need to succeed -

0:51:490:51:52

to lift trophies and be on the top of the podium,

0:51:520:51:54

and hear your national anthem, and ride for your country,

0:51:540:51:57

and I think that's why it's difficult for sportsmen to retire,

0:51:570:52:00

because everything else seems quite slow.

0:52:000:52:03

And, in the real world,

0:52:030:52:04

nothing gets close to needing to focus,

0:52:040:52:07

concentrate, be selfish and determined like riding a motorcycle.

0:52:070:52:11

ENGINES ROAR

0:52:110:52:16

Yeah, what is that?

0:52:160:52:18

ENGINES ROAR

0:52:220:52:25

ENGINES ROAR

0:52:350:52:37

Right on cue.

0:52:460:52:48

What is there not to love about it?

0:52:480:52:50

I have missed it since retiring.

0:52:520:52:53

I've really missed it,

0:52:530:52:55

and it's been really difficult and, erm...

0:52:550:52:57

Later that evening,

0:53:180:53:19

Master Kiyomoto calls everyone together for a final meal...

0:53:190:53:23

Thank you.

0:53:240:53:26

..and he wants to give his judgment on how they've all performed,

0:53:260:53:31

and who has come out on top.

0:53:310:53:33

Thank you. Thank you. Oh, there you go.

0:53:540:53:56

Thank you.

0:54:240:54:25

Oh, good, good. Wow.

0:55:080:55:11

I was really, really chuffed to get the sword.

0:55:160:55:18

After really sticking my neck out on that horse,

0:55:180:55:21

it was probably the proudest moment of all the sports.

0:55:210:55:24

Thank you very much.

0:55:240:55:25

I feel, today, for the first time, I was a competitor again,

0:55:250:55:29

and then to be told you've won the battle but not the war,

0:55:290:55:33

it's just like, what more could I personally have done

0:55:330:55:36

to have impressed today?

0:55:360:55:37

Gutting, this evening, if I'm honest.

0:55:370:55:40

I want to thank everybody, because riding your horse today

0:55:400:55:44

brought the same emotions back as I used to love in my old job,

0:55:440:55:48

so I want to thank everybody for bringing these emotions back.

0:55:480:55:52

It wasn't just the sword, it was the reasoning why I'd won.

0:55:520:55:55

I think Master Kiyomoto saw my old race face on,

0:55:550:55:58

and how much I focused,

0:55:580:55:59

and I think that was more the samurai tradition.

0:55:590:56:02

Kanpai. Kanpai. Kanpai.

0:56:020:56:04

Kanpai.

0:56:040:56:05

The summer's world tour of sport is over.

0:56:050:56:08

Kanpai.

0:56:080:56:09

Donovan's never done better than last place...

0:56:090:56:12

It's been an amazing experience.

0:56:120:56:13

I recognise that, you know, I have nothing to prove.

0:56:130:56:17

You know, I was at the top of my sport for many years,

0:56:170:56:20

but certainly my competitive days are, you know,

0:56:200:56:23

I can put them to rest right now.

0:56:230:56:25

..but taking part spurred him on.

0:56:250:56:28

I'm starting to see the abs coming back again,

0:56:280:56:31

so I'm definitely going to hit the gym to get back to the original me.

0:56:310:56:35

Gareth took victory in the oil wrestling in Turkey,

0:56:370:56:40

and he got back in touch with his desire to win.

0:56:400:56:43

The enjoyment of competing was amazing.

0:56:430:56:46

To, you know, to do sports that we've never done before,

0:56:460:56:49

and to be able to feel that want to win again,

0:56:490:56:52

to feel that desire to beat the person that's going before you,

0:56:520:56:55

was beautiful.

0:56:550:56:57

It was like a beautiful feeling to have.

0:56:570:57:00

In India and Japan, Iwan came a close second,

0:57:000:57:03

but he's finally accepted his winning days may be over.

0:57:030:57:07

It's been emotional.

0:57:070:57:08

All the challenges have physically pushed me - I knew they would -

0:57:080:57:11

but I think they've mentally pushed me as well,

0:57:110:57:14

and they've cemented the feeling that,

0:57:140:57:18

or the acceptance that,

0:57:180:57:20

I'm not the Iwan Thomas of old, and that's all right.

0:57:200:57:23

But, when it came to embodying the will to win,

0:57:270:57:29

with three clear wins out of four,

0:57:290:57:31

superbike hero James Toseland emerged the clear victor.

0:57:310:57:36

This whole thing's been a real adventure.

0:57:360:57:38

I knew it would be, but not to this level.

0:57:380:57:41

To realise I can come back into a competition

0:57:410:57:43

and turn the old spark back on, and enjoy it...

0:57:430:57:47

I never thought that I would reach the heights of excitement

0:57:470:57:51

and thrill and adrenaline that I used to do on a motorcycle,

0:57:510:57:54

but I did, and the boys have been great to do battle with.

0:57:540:57:59

I've really enjoyed it.

0:57:590:58:02

Going forward from here, I'm...

0:58:020:58:03

I'm going to challenge myself even more.

0:58:030:58:06

That's it. Come on, pal. Bring it in.

0:58:060:58:10

Yes, my man.

0:58:100:58:12

Here we go. Yes.

0:58:120:58:14

We glance at blurred patio doors

0:58:530:58:54

Horses nibbling the edges of fields

0:58:540:58:57

And we know each other for a while

0:58:570:58:59

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