BBC One: Day 12: 11.30-13.00 Olympics

me some time! That would be something!

Let us get on with our most successful games for 140 years. By

Sunday 2000 athletes will have competed in the Olympic Stadium

across 47 events in the athletics. Now it is the turn of the women in

the 800m. Here is good to look out Caster Semenya makes her first

appearance at the Games, after a difficult 18 months. The Olympic

champion over 800m is back. Pamela Jim Neil Lowe was just 18 when she

one the title in Beijing -- Pamela Jelimo. A controversial selection

means that Lynsey Sharp needs a good performance here, despite

taking silver in the world championships. Individual medals on

offer in the showjumping. Not even a broken neck and a hip replacement.

54-year-old Nick Skelton. Nicola Adams is already guaranteed a medal

in boxing. At 1:45pm, she faces five-time world lightweight

champion at Mary Kom. The capacity crowd at the Olympic Stadium has

had a lot to cheer about this morning. Sophie Hitchon got a new

British record, Daniel Awde ran a personal best in the 100m, and Mo

Farah has qualified for the 5,000m. Get in. Let's go to the track. Is

there time before the heats of the 800m to talk about the

extraordinary events in the pole vault? It does look very dramatic,

but I imagine there is not an athlete out there who has not had

one of their polls snap at some point. It is a dangerous event.

Thankfully, the Cuban athlete is OK. That could cause a nasty injury.

can be quite off-putting as well. Now they have to get a brand new

pole vault and start off again. It is a difficult thing. The women's

800m is up next. Caster Semenya, cast our mind back to 2009, all the

issues around her, whether she could compete as a woman or not.

Obviously she can but she has not been the same athlete since then.

Something about global humiliation has affected her. I think it has

affected her state of mind and her performance, but it is good to see

her here. She has not been in good form but let's see what she is able

to do. Brendan Foster and Paul Caster Semenya from South Africa in

lane eight. One of the most talked about athletes in recent years.

World champion in 2009. She has had a couple of lean years since then.

She is back in shape. She has run under two minutes this year. She

carried the South African flag during the opening ceremony.

Montano, 26 years old. Her last appearance was at the Monaco

Diamond League, where she finished in third place in a very quick race,

and she is the American champion over the last 40 minutes, maybe a

degree less than it was, but good conditions for track and field this

morning. Once again, we have a packed stadium. A lot of them will

be watching Caster Semenya for the right for once. Here we go. Heat

ahead of everybody. She is going too quickly, and she is especially

going too quickly in a heat. The first three to qualify and the

three fastest losers. She should as strong as it was. -- Caster

Semenya. That was far too quick for Montano. I would not be surprised

if that was too fast even for a final. I am not sure I have ever

seen a lead of 400m in an 800m race ever as big as that. She is now

group as well, Almanza, just 20 years old. Caster Semenya using her

Goodness only knows what she was doing. Caster Semenya ran well. But

the winner, 64 seconds for the second lap, 64.9. This is how not

to run an 800m race. You set off, go quickly, and from this point on,

you slow down. That is a silly tactic because it makes you more

tired than you need to be. Caster setting a pace. -- the 800m. Caster

third have had a much easier ride than the Montano from the United

States. I think her coach needs to talk to her. That is not the way to

run 800m. The American is more tired now then Caster Semenya. She

really punished herself in that first heat. Caster Semenya looked

wonderful in second place. We will have to see if Almanza can go

through as the fastest loser. Ashdon eating, under eight metres

eight metres but it is a red flag. Daniel Awde pacing around in the

background. He got a foul in the first round. Frustration for Ashton

Eton but certainly in the lead in the decathlon at the moment. A good

100m in the first round. Daniel experienced this sort of support in

the past. He has got another foul. Under all sorts of pressure, after

such a fantastic start earlier on this morning in the 100m. I am

wondering if he is hurting. Daniel Awde has got it all to do in the

third round. He must get a mark on are really out of sorts for most of

this year, but that was much better. Lewis, having gone clear at 5.50

first time. You saw what a good sprinter Damian Warner was earlier

on. He ran well under 11 seconds. What has he got in the long jump?

Could effort. He likes it. The crowd like it -- good effort. There

are two at swimming pools in this decathlon -- two Paul's in this

decathlon. One started a good well after. That is why we have seen two

chums from Daniel Awde. -- John year and she won more easily than

anybody expected, the world champion. She has raced fairly

lightly this year. We have only seen her once on the circuit in the

Diamond League. She has raced in Russia once since then, working on

hair but it was a special one on this occasion. It was in honour of

her grandmother's one hundredth birthday. And beautiful it looks,

too. Happy birthday to her little bit more vigour! And why not.

I was just chatting to Brendan, when you compare these heats to the

first round in the men's, the Schmitt of the USA. Top three will

go through. There are two or three decent athletes in each race and

qualification, as you probably saw for the first heat, for the better

athletes is fairly comfortable. This lady, Nemra, carried the flag

for the Marshall Islands in the opening ceremony, but this will be

Marshall Islands? I think somewhere in the southern oceans... LAUGHTER.

As opposed to the northern oceans. Marshall Islands in the Olympic

Games, which will come to me at one point. I am being told near micron

just pulling up injured. It is quite an easy qualification. Aydin

injured. We will be interested just to get a bit of a guide as to who

is in good form. It is good for the athletes just to get used to the

arena and get used to the crowd. Savinova looks comfortable, looks

strong. Tintu Luka, I think she did it! There are just six fastest

loser spots. And that was quite a slow heat. Akkaoui might have been

run out of it there. Schmidt looking good. Luka coming down the

outside. This is a good finish from Luka. Does she get their? I think

she does. Akkaoui in pain all the way round.

She came to the Olympic Games and she wanted to finish and fair play

to her. She is in tears but she has been through her Olympic experience

and no one can deny you that. Savinova looking comfortable.

Schmidt comfortable in second place. Then Luka coming through with a

good run eventually. It was pretty good run eventually. It was pretty

easy as a qualification run. Well as you saw their it is not

just about the winning but about the taking part. A bit of a

surprise from Sophie Hitchon earlier. Rhys says surprise but she

has been throwing very well. She has been consistent and is a great

technician. Look at that reaction, she knows the hammer has gone out

to what end up being her best throat ever. The surprise, we do

seek athletes come to Championships with a great personal best and they

never produce it when they come here. It is difficult and first

thing in the morning as well, if you think about it. Even when you

train in the morning you do not really have to do a personal best,

it is just about preparation. So to see British records at this time of

the day is a wonderful thing. actually lies in its 5th place and

if she is in the top 12, she will make the final.

We are certainly enjoying the British records. Now Greenwich Park

has been wonderful for our equestrian team in the past week.

Two gold medals and a silver. Today it is every horse and rider for

themselves. Clare Balding is therefore as now.

I'm here with 20,000 people in the stands at Greenwich. All waiting

for the start of the individual competition at 12 o'clock. We have

37 riders going through to the first round. They all start again

from scratch. Those that are leading after the first round, the

top 20 go through to another jumping round this afternoon. Then

if there is untidy goal against the clock in a jump off. The course is

enormous. This is a big start. And off they go, 12 fences in total. A

maximum height of 5 ft 3. It really is going to take a lot of jumping.

The British course designer, Ben Ellis, has just made sure that

these have got bigger and bigger. Nick Skelton, who would be our

leading chance, and he is going to jump right towards the end. He said

his force makes them feel as if he is a little boy again. He says the

animal can do anything, he can stretch out, reached over fences.

He is not fazed by the crowd. He has got so much energy and he is

relatively young at nine years old. Nick Skelton just has massive

belief in him. So that combination, they are not many sports that would

give you that as a team. So and think Nick Skelton is coming out

here thinking he could win an individual gold medal. There's just

a bit of a sense that he needs to put something right. In Athens he

went into the final round believing he could win the gold medal and for

the first time in the whole week, he had fences down. But he now

thinks this is his moment to put that right. Anti is riding for gold.

What an update that was. And there's a 65 year-old Canadian

riding. All eyes on Greenwich park shortly. We now head over to the

Olympic Stadium for the third heat Olympic Stadium for the third heat

of the women's 800m. We have three athletes who have not

turned up for this third heat. And three of the fastest athletes who

were going to run this morning. The first three well qualified for

the semi-finals tomorrow. The athlete on the inside, and she had

her lead leg right over at the start line. It was not a false

start, just inexperience. A green card for Bakhit. Magiso of Ethiopia

is not there, which is a disappointment. Me Atkinson, her

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

her life at the moment. And this is really good to see. Shumi is

leading. Niyonsaba, her fifth ever race. She is not experienced but

she is a real talent. Look at the way she just accelerated. But she

is running a little bit like a novice. Let us see it that young

talent... Look at her, all over the place. They do not need to fight

for the finish. Shumi there. And what an experience for Amy Atkinson.

That is a personal best for her. Over on the far side of the arena,

the decathlon Long jump continues with Daniel Awde. The emotions must

be racing around in his head at the moment. A big personal best

performance in the 100m. Then he started his first round jump and

got a foul. Same with the second. So does he now plays Safer? Or does

he go flat out? To try to stay in the hunt for what would be an

amazing performance this morning after two events. His coach, a very

experienced multi- events coach. And the next man up on the runway

is Daniel Order of Great Britain. - - Daniel Awde. Maybe he is going to

go for it. He is a decent long jumper. Well behind the board on

this occasion. He has suffered in looks of it. That is about 60

points altogether that he has lost with that last round jump. But we

will have to get an update on his knee.

Ashton Eaton, such a good long jumper when he gets it right. That

is a great effort. It looked OK. White flag. Spot on, that could not

have been any better. And that is a good second event for

him after a solid start in the 100m. Eight metres and three. Good points

for the American. Niyonsaba getting heat number three.

Goodness knows what is wrong with Daniel Ord. Obviously a problem

with his left knee. It is a tough first day. The pole vault looked

wonderful. 5.70 required to go through to the final. Looking good.

He is just working out, seeing how Sharp of Edinburgh, selected on a B

standard of athletes who had the A standard, but they didn't win the

trials and go to the European Championships and win a medal. So

Lynsey Sharp is our sole representative in the first round

of the 800. They have been varied heats. I think she can get through

this one, but she might have to run one of the best races she has ever

run. She has a good pace, and that these athletes. But then you have

the experience of others. The Ukrainian is pretty good at getting

through rounds. She made it to the final four years ago. She is 31 now,

though. But none will be tougher than this

young lady here, number-one in the world and the defending champion.

She became Kenya's first Olympic champion four years ago, and was

somebody who -- she will be somebody who Lynsey Sharp will be

watching carefully. Looks a little nervous, and she is bound to be.

First three to go through. There are fastest loser spots available.

If things do not go right, she will be hoping Pamela Jelimo takes it at

a steady pace. Lynsey Sharp has a chance of going through to fastest

loser if she does not finish in the top three. The overall standard has

not been great. Pamela Jelimo heads them out. Lynsey Sharp will follow.

She will be happy that it is slow, because she has got pace to burn.

Our am delighted to see Lynsey Sharp in these Olympic Games. She

got a silver medal in the European Championships, as her father did,

Cameron Sharp, 30 years earlier. She was selected because of what

she did in the trials. That European run was a good one. The

Olympic champion, Pamela Jelimo, behind the front-runner. It is

quick in the front. Lynsey Sharp is just over 60 seconds. She is in a

qualifying position already. She has taken up an interesting

position. One of her big rivals has stepped off the track. That means

the top three are pulling away. The second from the American trials is

way off the pace. Lynsey Sharp is running very well. These three can

pretty much take it easy from here. The crowd are doing a great job,

lifting Lynsey Sharp. They are enjoying this. She just has a

little glance at the screen at the far end and maybe realises there is

no point in trying to run with Pamela Jelimo. It is an easy win

for the Kenyan, as you would expect, but a solid performance for Lynsey

Sharp in second place. This is exactly what Lynsey Sharp would

have wanted. Very good indeed. The American was very poor. In the end,

qualification was fairly straightforward. She would have

been nervous when she looked at the start list, but she had no need to

be. She acquitted herself extremely well. That was an impressive

performance. It was good for her to come on to the Olympic stage with

an opportunity like that. She must have been nervous about the other

runners. The American is a much better athlete than she showed

today. But Lynsey Sharp, coming round the bend, was looking

comfortable and strong. She has a good style. She is strong in the

finishing straight. She was working at it and every bit at home on the

Olympic stage. Having gone through the performance of going through

the systems here and learning what it is about, she handled herself

very well. It will be great for her to look forward with confidence to

the semi-final. She is our only representative in the 800m. Let's

hope we can see her work her way into the semi-final and maybe into

That was an accomplished performance. Massive crowd cheering

you on. How did you keep your nurse in check at the Stade? I came to

watch a couple of nights ago to get used to it. But I don't think you

can be ready for when you are on the track. When I was running, I

had this ringing in my left ear because the crowd were so loud it.

It was good, because it made me forget everything and just get to

the finish. Obviously, the whole selection process added pressure on

you. Did you feel that today? have said all along that I have

tried to block it out and not take it as added pressure. The media

hasn't helped, but I tried to concentrate on my race. I have had

some good training in the last month. All along, you have had a

tremendous season, despite the furore around you. Silver medal at

the European Championships and then coming here. You are only 22 and

dealing with all that. Yeah, I would not be here without my coach.

I have rarely grown as an athlete in the past year. I trust him

implicitly. You looked like you ringing in her ear is Brendan

Foster. She needs to answer it next distressed and limping a bit as

well after that long jump competition. After such a promising

start in the 100m, he is still in there and we will update you on his

fitness as soon as we can. It is certainly a worry. We hope he can

get to the physios and they can sort that out and he can carry on.

It would be a shame if he had to Lynsey Sharp got through

comfortably, but you got an idea from that interview of the pressure

when on her mind? She has had a lot to contend with. A lot of

discussion about whether she should or should not be in. But her

interview was very measured. She ran brilliantly. She put herself in

the right position at the right time and was able to strike. She

got a very good time. She will grow from this experience. She will

learn what it takes to deal with these types of early-morning starts

and go from strength to strength. column, it was a strong statement

by Charles van Commenee and the selection panel to say we will take

a B standard athlete when we have four with an A standard. Ind Justin

decision, but it seems to have paid off -- it was an interesting

decision, but it has paid off. We have faith silver medallist here,

so she has a just place in this team. Her mother and father were

international athletes. One was an 800m runner, her mother, and

Cameron was a sprinter. She can tap into that as a resource. She is in

a luxurious position anyway, and she is carrying that forward. She

seems very comfortable in this environment. I don't think anything

challenged her there. We know Pamela Jelimo is out there on her

own, but Lynsey Sharp did well. did it. It shows that Charles had

faith in her. He knew she was able to deal with this. The way she ran

in the trials, backed up with the European silver medal, he said, you

deserve your place. The other girls didn't do enough to impress me.

saw Daniel Awde walking off to see the physio after struggling with

the long jump. He brilliantly started the 100m with a personal

best, but clearly has a problem. had both his knees taped, so that

suggests some tendonitis or something brought about by jumping.

Demotion of being here, the crowd supporting him, maybe cost him

those two fouls on the first two jumps. It does not look good, but

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

indoors. This will be a real battle for her. Show the green card,

please. That just means, don't do it again. Heat five of the women's

800m. The Russian, as you would expect, she has gone off quite

quickly. She has already rocketed because the athlete from Kenya is a

young lady, 19 years of age. She was sixth in the Kenyan trials,

which would normally not select your, but because the second person

had not done the qualifying time, they put her in and gave her the

chance of running on the world stage. She was the 2009 world youth

champion. The young Kenyan athletes these days can often be very good.

We will see if she has the same talent that we think she has. Elena

Arzhakova of Russia is leading. She will be dangerous in this race. It

is a very slow opening 400m. Presumably, the reason Elena

Arzhakova got to the front quickly was because she wanted to control

it. 68.7 for the first lap. Now the pace will wind up just a little bit.

There are six athletes at the front at the moment, still being led by

Elena Arzhakova of Russia. Detour Ukrainian -- the tall Ukrainian is

in fifth place. Not looking too good. Then you have got Bishop of

Canada. Elena Arzhakova struggling a bit, but finds a gap on their

inside and sprints to the front. The front three will probably make

it through. After a very slow start. That is another way of not running

the 800m. We saw earlier, and now we can see the Palestinian

finishing. I don't think she was close to her best time. Elena

Arzhakova of Russia help but inside position. -- she held that inside

position. It looked as though the three would qualify quickly, but

then the young Kenyan faded. But the three athletes crossed the line.

68 for the first lap, just under 60 seconds for the second lap. I don't

think the final will be run anything like that. Sometimes it is

difficult when you go to slow in the first lap. Some of these

athletes are much better at the longer distance than the shorter

distance. But Elena Arzhakova would think herself fortunate to get

through this. The gap opened on the for some while. -- a new lifetime

best for Sawalha. Let's listen to this conversation. There are five

of us. If the Spanish guy doesn't jump... The trade union of pole

vaulters has got together, the meeting has been convened. Steve

Walker, the general secretary, has decided that enough might be enough.

These guys, with their first-time clearances at 5.50, Steve Lewis

included, are trying to persuade the powers that be that enough is

enough. I would have thought Steve Hooker would at least have been the

chairman, not just to the Secretary. Isn't the general secretary more

important? I think he was the shop steward. Steve Lewis, the British

record holder, strolling around in the background. He will be happy to

get out of the stadium and get mentally prepared for Friday's

could push Sophie Hitchon down to 6th place, and she has done it. The

Asian record holder, a very fine athlete indeed. That is one of the

longest throws we have seen this morning. In the previous pool,

Flora chip was the best -- of our a new British record, 71.98. Zhang,

74.53. Sophie Hitchon is down in 6th position. We haven't seen too

much. She accelerates quite nicely, a bit of balance at the end.

Another athlete that puts one over the 73 metres mark. I think the 73

metres that the organisers asking for qualification is the longest

qualifying distance I have ever seen. Bending that left leg, but

staying nicely on balance. That is another athlete who would push

Sophie Hitchon down a place. It will only be the top wolf who will

go through to the final. Sophie is hanging on in their -- only the top

13 have gone Claire. Seven and then another six your tide -- have gone

clear. It would make a total of 13. Another six who are tied. They are

saying, surely we don't need to carry on, take 13 through to the

final. The long jump in the decathlon is concluded. Ashdon Eton

He was in 7th place in -- Daniel Awde in 19th, he was in 7th after

the 100 metres. The into the final heat of it when its 800m. -- the

go through. The overall quality in this first round has been average.

It certainly has been. We are talking about the men's standard...

Look at the back straight, Attar in the green clothing. Way behind the

leaders. She is the first athlete to represent Saudi Arabia. There

she is, making a move down the back straight. Well behind the others.

She is based in San Diego in California. She was allowed to take

part in this race when the King said you needed to wear suitable

clothing, you could represent Saudi Arabia. She is a long way behind at

the moment, but making a bit of history, the first track and field

woman from Saudi Arabia. They also had a judo player who took part

last Friday. Sarah Attar, I am sure she is very proud to be

representing their country. At the wonder why the athletes don't

switch off, but it is good running. It is the run-up -- the Russian I

am interested in. The youngster from Romania, pushing to get around

Garcia. Poistogova is looking comfortable. The top three will

have to put their foot down. Garcia stretches. Lavric will try to get

in. They will qualify easily because it was a quicker heat. I

reckon to, maybe three will go through behind the top three. Sarah

Attar from Saudi Arabia, getting a big reception. I think they have

been made aware of the situation. An historic moment for Saudi

Arabian women. Into the finishing straight. Time is of little

consequence. The crowd are responding famously to this effort

by Sarah Attar. Really generous response, that's fantastic. That is

a step forward for women's athletics. A bit of history being

made there. The first Saudi Arabian female athlete on the track. Let's

tidy this up. No problems for Busienei, but there was a bit of a

sprint at the end. They probably didn't realise they did not need to

because of the way the other kids had gone. It was a race for the

first three and the fastest qualifiers were going to come from

this race anyway. Busienei posted onto the scene in 2007, I think she

is as strong as she was then -- burst onto the scene. She was so

impressive in 2007, she was beaten in the Olympic Games by her team-

mate the following year. Poistogova of Russia in second place. Garcia

of Colombia, coming through, running smoothly. Those three,

comfortably through to the semi- final. Fairly easy run for all

three of them. The next round, we will find out. A draw for the semi-

final will pitch some of the good athletes. A fairly sedate opening

but we will step up a notch in the made it through to the final. The

shop steward, the rest of the pole vaulters' union have got their way

with the officials. Steve Lewis and the rest of those guys at 5.50 and

5.60, 5.50 at the first attempt, will have qualified for the final,

which takes place on Friday. Steve draw, the overall standard is not

what it has been before at the Olympic Games, she might have a

good chance if she gets a good draw A pretty satisfactory morning,

Steve Lewis is through, Lynsey Sharp is through, Mo Farah got

through in the 5,000 metres and fingers crossed for Sophie Hitchon

in the hammer qualifying. She got a British record and was 5th. We can

look forward to this evening's semi-finals and finals, an exciting

evening in prospect. Not least because it is the 110 metres

hurdles. It is the semi-final and final, two athletes in the semi-

finals. Still hope for Great Britain, but they are tough races,

no doubt about it. The United States champion is looking so

strong and fluent, Aries Merritt. It is those performances which make

him out standing. The question over him his will he be able to do it on

the biggest stage? He has never won a major championship outdoors

before. It will be a tough challenge for him. He will have

stiff opposition, but he has got the ability. And it is the Blake

and Bolt show in the semi-finals of the 200 metres, they will have to

run this time. Yes, I don't think we will see cruising or jogging. It

is going to be exciting. We know that Usain Bolt has the potential

to take this 200 out, but we don't know about Blake. The run in

Brussels, it was incredible. He likes speed endurance, he thinks it

is his better event, so let's see. We also have what might be the race

of the championship, Alison Phoenix in the 200 metres for women. To me,

she is the outstanding female athlete. There were two clear

favourite, Rudisha and Alison Phoenix. She is going to win this

race by a huge margin. I am looking for her getting close to around

21.05, she is in that great a showed. If that wasn't enough,

maybe a double in the long jump, Shara Proctor goes in the final. I

don't want to jinx aid. It is such a fiercely contest -- contested

competition. She will need to get another British record to get the

medal, I think. Thank you very much indeed. If you want to continue

watching the athletics, it is on the red button. For the moment,

back to you, Matt. Thank you very much indeed. The 800

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

Let's hope that Daniel Awde's leg holds out. We are moving from two

legs to four. We have already had two goals and a silver from

Greenwich Park, it has been a happy hunting ground for the British team

That was a great start. That is Zara Phillips absolutely screaming

Over the last! Silver for Great It is going to be a jump-off for

the gold. Nick Skelton at his very best! Oh, it is a wait-and-see game

now. This could be the first gold for Britain since 1952! And Britain

have got gold! Will they be here to see Britain win their first ever

dressage medal? This is gold about A medal in every equestrian event

so far. Incredible. Before we hand back to Greenwich Park and Clare,

who is at -- here is all you need to know about the art of

showjumping. Equestrian jumping. The jumping

course consists of a mixture of spread obstacles, and straight,

vertical obstacles. A water jump may also be included. The jumps are

designed so that if the horse hits them, part or all of the fence will

fall. Penalties are incurred for mistakes. The horse rider with the

fewest wins. Four point and it is are imposed for a first refusal.

There is a one point penalty for every four seconds over the

allotted time spent on the course. A second refusal or a fall results

in disqualification. In the event of a tie, riders will contest a

jump-off against the clock. If you would like to get involved in

Olympic sports, go to our website for more information.

The jumping has already started, so let's cross to Greenwich Park to a

very interested spectator. There is Nick Skelton who, at 54, has his

first and only Olympic medal. So he is using every moment to prepare

for his first round. We can talk to Clare, because we saw a guy there,

but nothing was mentioned about the distances between the fences, and

that is the crucial thing. It is really advantageous for Nick,

because he will go third-last in this field of 37 riders. One pulled

out this morning because the horse did not pass the vet inspection.

That has let in a competitor from Ireland. The Irishman jumped clear.

He won the gold medal in 2004, but had it taken away from him when his

horse tested positive for inadequate so -- a banned substance.

He is one of only two riders to jump clear, the other being the

Olivier Guillon of France. Nick, watching the riders go round this

course to see where the problems are being caused, to have a look at

what we call related distances, where there are a set number of

strides the horse can get in between one fence and the other,

and to get a clearer idea of what he needs to do later on Big Star.

He is third last to go. Before him, we do see Ben Mann complex. And

Scott Brash will be the first of the British riders. We are about to

see the Brazilian, one of the great riders in world showjumping, who

inherited the gold medal from Athens when the Irishman was

disqualified. You will see him next in the rain -- wing. It has already

been the most successful Olympics ever for equestrian sport for Great

Britain in front of a packed crowd. It was very hot earlier. The clouds

have thankfully comb-over. -- come over. Abroad will be excited about

such a roller-coaster ride through all that has happened so far, and

it will be no different today. The Olympic champion of 2004 now. It is

the great Rodrigo Pessoa, following on from his wonderful, talented

father Nelson. He won the individual gold in 2004. He won the

world title when a very young man in Rome in 1998. Now he writes this

very good 12-year-old. Remember, they start with a clean sheet. So

this man, who has been out of luck for Brazil so far, could jump right

back into contention with a clear round here. Just to remind

everybody, these riders, the best ones from the earlier rounds come

at the end. But they are all starting from scratch today. They

all have the same chance of winning the gold medal. Rodrigo is a true

classic championship rider. So far, very smooth and accurate with his

riding. He has gone very wide to the water and broke his canter

rhythm. Most of the riders have kept coming on six strides. He went

out wide and lost his momentum. That was probably a bit of a rider

error. We are not used to seeing that from him. These riders have

got to get round here are less than 84 seconds. He should just be up OK

the water and get a balance, but by doing that, lost his momentum. It

was not just unlucky, he was right back in the water. That was a very

disappointing mistake to have made. Everything else looked perfect.

Remember, they will carry those faults through to the second round.

If there are any ties for any of the medals, there will be a jump-

off. So we could end up with the even more than one jump-off if

there are a lot of tides cause. Now another star. This field is full of

world-class stars. Never been seen like this in Britain before, but

here we are in this Greenwich arena. It is Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum,

42 years old. Born in America, but now one of the stars for Germany.

She was fourth individually in Beijing. That was her only Olympic

Games for Germany. But she was on the winning gold medal team in

Lexington. This is a young horse. This is a nine-year-old. Those

water tray is really are quite spooky, and distract the horses.

Really big horse for a lady rider. Meredith used as the horse's

ability to her advantage. Doesn't try and fight with her. She wrote

the water spot-on. Didn't quite stretch, but remember, that water

is 4.30 metres wide. The horse really doesn't quite respond to her

leg. That was evident at the water. Just didn't quite get that little

bit of acceleration she needed. It has been a very good round. Exactly

the same so far as Rodrigo, but she has hit a fence. She is married to

Marcus, the brother of a great rider. She was a late replacement.

She is young, with a lot more to come. You might say it is possibly

a year too early. That straighteners you need to stay in

balance, she lost it there. But brilliant recovery. Bit unlucky

with the water. Just dropped one foot back. If the horse a's food

goes on the plasticine, they get four faults. Now the one Mexican

rider. This is the 16thth out of 37 due to come in. It is the 33-year-

old Alberto Michan. He is riding a very good horse. He is the only

Mexican through to the individual round. This horse is a lovely type.

Making a good start to the round. This fence comes up quite quickly.

Alberto did well. It is 1.80 white, that fence. Alberto is shouting,

and getting your response he needs. Good ground. The Mexicans finished

night as a team, and the audience lovely round. Look how care for the

horse is over the last fence. He is rightly pleased with that round.

Well, from the Mexican, it is to the reigning Olympic champion, the

great Eric Lamaze, 44, representing Canada. What an Olympic Games

Canada had been Hong Kong four years ago. They have not been quite

so lucky here. But Eric, of course, wrote one of the best horses in the

world. It died at the end of a round in Valencia last November. So

he is riding this nine-year-old mare again. Very young, not had a

are older than nine. Nick Skelton's course, Big Star, is nine as well.

He is an exceptional horse, with a very mature brain. This one looks a

bit greener. The great difference between the two nine-year-old is

that Eric has only had this was a matter of months, whereas Nick and

Big Star have been building for the Olympics for four or five years.

longer horses to get their hocks under them. Just losing a bit of

shape coming out. Lovely over the last. This is an improving horse.

He will not be too disappointed. But I think we can probably rule

Eric Lamaze out of their medals. was a great effort. The horse has

only just stepped up to this level. Trying to replace a horse like the

old one is virtually impossible. That was one of the best horses you

are ever likely to see. Just a bit of a mistake at the water. Slightly

held in the air. Didn't stretch. really seems quite difficult to get

around that water, and let the horse is were experienced. Here is

a combination that are very well two clear rounds at the moment.

Their manager said that the French are coming out, they are going to

give this a good round of the readers a painting team performance.

-- after the disappointing team performance. A real class French

tall and elegant, technically superb. You watch his hands as he

comes into the fence, he doesn't interfere with the horse's rhythm,

he allows his horse to jump. One interesting thing with this horse...

Seeing it drop short at the water. As you listen to her go around, she

gets a bit tired sometimes because her breathing is not the best. They

have got a strip on her nose to try to get more oxygen into her. I have

seen her tyre sometimes at the end jumping the middle part of a

combination. An expensive round for chance of waving these flats, for

the one clear round from Guillon. - - waving these flags. The other

clear round is from Ireland's Cian O'Connor. Many of these horses are

dropping so wide on the awkward dog-leg distance. Nothing unlucky

about the combination, didn't get enough push into the air at all.

would think the 16 faults for the stylish Frenchman could well

exclude them from the second round. That is certainly one of the most

expensive in this first round of the two individual rounds that wore

make-up the individual medals. Now a another world champion. The

feared it -- the field is littered with champions. This is the man who

won the world title in 2006. The world title, when you write your

own horse but you also ride the other three people's horses to get

through to the last four. He is a classic horseman, the 51-year-old

Jos Lansink. He won a team gold, but here he has been riding for

Belgium. This great big horse, 14 years old. Has got a bigger jump as

any horse in this individual competition. Actually a bit of a

scare this morning. He very nearly didn't pass the horse inspection.

Jos works so hard to anchor have. His big problem, he went very

slowly into the triple bar, nearly had it down. -- to anchor her. He

is worried that she has so much she has quite a big bridle on her

to try to stop a pulling forward too quickly. There is the power

she jump to the horse so well, she is so strong, she ran straight into

the box are behind it. Show jumping is not all about power, you have to

be able to ride them, they have to hand, he might just not. We will

get the top 20, remember. Jumped the water, kept troubling --

travelling to the next oxer. Two coming right at the end, 37 per do

go is Ben Maher, 30 eighth is Nick Neto, with his 12-year-old. He has

won two team bronze medals. They have done great service. This is

the 4th Olympics for this man. Those two bronze medals were in

general, there are faults coming all over the place. That is always

what you want from a course builder. A couple of bogey places with the

water just coming up. This has caused a lot of trouble. Another

rider having to work hard to powerful scope but also the ability

put them right in the next on one two clear rounds. He an unlucky

fence to have doubts. It gives you an idea how light the cups are,

just a little touch, very fine margins these riders are working

with. Need a little bit of luck sometimes, as well. You are right,

British riders come in, they will explode. It is a full house on the

second last day. The Swiss members of the crowd, wishing Steve Guerdat

the best of luck. 30 years old, very talented. Riding a French-bred

horse, 11 years old. A lot of European team gold in 2009 at

Windsor. He won a European bronze four years ago with his lovely

horse. He thinks a lot of this horse, really impressed in the

World Cup final. They finished second over some huge courses. They

missed out on AIM team a medal. Another nation that could well show

their worth in this individual -- he jumped it so well, such an agile

horse. Talking about the can and breeding, it has been used in

several different stud books. This is registered with a French

studbook, but also used a lot all Got straight and then picked up the

right pace and rhythm. Any break in rhythm at all at the water, and

they are not going to make it. This is looking really good. Keeping up

jumped it so well. He had a clear tray but he had a plan. Two short

strides coming out of there. These riders have to get a plan before

they come into the arena. He worked hard to get balance, fantastic

few Irish-bred horses here. It is an Irish Aman that we have been

outstanding. Just look at her expression on her face as she comes

to the fences. She is totally on the side of Paul, and they are a

judge is going to have a look. Watch the bottom corner, he has

four at the water. That was a shame. He didn't quite get up to the take-

off board. He just made it a bit wider. A little rattled, just want

to jump. The time is all right, I think. No, he is going to get a

time fault as well. 54 Paul Estermann. -- 5, for Paul Estermann.

STUDIO:, just a reminder that the top 20 riders go through to the

next round with three Britons still to come. We have heard some news

from the Olympic Stadium. Daniel Ward has pulled out of the