Coyle aims to come back stronger after Olympics

Showjumper Daniel Coyle and horse owner Ariel Grange said they already have one eye towards the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028

County Londonderry showjumper Daniel Coyle has said he is aiming to come back stronger after missing out on a medal at the Paris Olympics.

Daniel Coyle and his horse Legacy were going well in the individual Olympic final before their round unravelled and he decided to retire Legacy from the remaining fences.

Only three of the 30 starters managed a clear round.

Coyle said that even after representing Team Ireland in both individual and team events at the Paris games, both he and Legacy's owner, Ariel Grange, are already tentatively looking towards the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

'We can't wait for the next one'

Speaking to BBC News NI from the Dublin Horse Show, the Ardmore man said he had somewhat mixed emotions following the Paris games, but can look back fondly on the experience.

"It's a shame we didn't come away with a medal at the Olympics, it's disheartening in one way, but I could not be prouder of her [Legacy]," he said.

On a brutally-tough course, Coyle and his horse looked to be heading for their fourth clear round of the week and a place in the jump-off for the medals.

They had posted three clear rounds earlier, including two in the team competition and another in the individual qualifier, and expectations were high they would contend for the medals.

But two thirds of the way round, the duo had their first fence down of the Olympics and the medal chance had gone.

Coyle said it was still amazing to look back on his journey from riding horses around Eglinton, County Londonderry, to finding himself in the magnificent Château de Versailles venue in Paris in front of thousands of people.

"When I rode into that arena on Legacy, it was a bit emotional," he admitted.

He said it was an incredible honour to represent Team Ireland and said they can hold their heads high with the performance.

"So many people have come up to us and said how much of a good job we did and how we did the country proud," he told BBC News NI.

Despite the Los Angeles games being four years away, Coyle said he would love another crack at an Olympics and use the experience he has learned from Paris.

"I can't wait for the next one and I really wish we could do it all again," he said.

“A lot can happen in that time but for sure we would love to be going back – I think for both of us we would maybe even be going in a bit more confident the next time."

Daniel Coyle and Legacy were going well in the Olympic final before their round unravelled

Coyle has already impressed since returning to home soil from France.

He won the Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes 1m60 jump-off class on board Ariel Grange's other horse Incredible at the RDS Arena in Dublin on Thursday.

He admits that by becoming an Olympian, there is now some added pressure when he is competing.

"If you don't have pressure you aren't really trying hard enough," he said.

Ariel Grange, who is the owner of Legacy, said she was incredibly proud of Coyle's and Legacy's efforts in Paris, and said it was an experience she would never forget.

She said Legacy was an incredibly special horse to them both and they had built up a special relationship with her over the years.

The pair said they have been enjoying some well-earned downtime since the Paris games finished and Ms Grange, who hails from Canada, said she had been enjoying some Derry hospitality.

"It was great fun, we had a look around the city and it's certainly entertaining," she said.