WHILE much of the focus at the moment is on the Team GB Olympic squad, a Retford youngster hasA gone behind the scenes to shadow the competitors during the 2008 Beijing event.
Retford-based dressage rider Darryl Thickitt, along with two other promising riders – Sarah Mills and Charlotte Du-Jardin – jetted off to Beijing last week to get a taste for the Olympics as they have all been earmarked as hopefuls for London 2012.
The trio will live in the Olympic village to get a sense of the event from a competitor's perspective.
They will be encouraged to mix with the athletes of different sports and watch the preparation and competition in a variety of disciplines.
The riders will enjoy an exclusive front row seat at this year's Olympics to prepare themselves for what they may have to face if they are chosen to compete in 2012.
"This is a fantastic opportunity to live and breathe the Olympics and get a real understanding of what happens," said Darryl, who was recently placed third at Hickstead International. "We will get a chance to see what takes place behind the scenes at a world class event."
"We will get to watch the equestrian events in Macau and then travel to Beijing where we will see other Olympic sports being contested. I think that this experience will really get us geared up for London 2012."
