The Brazilian Equestrian Federation (CBH – Confederação Brasileira de Hipismo) has issued a statement announcing that Nelson Pessoa (BRA) has accepted an important role at the , acting as a technical consultant. The Brazilians are qualified for the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, and look to increase their chances with the addition of Neco to their team.
Neco, to many the Pelé of Showjumping, joins Philippe Guerdat (FRA) and Technical Jumping Director Rodrigo Sarmento (BRA), a rider himself, on the technical board of Brazil’s maximum equestrian entity, giving the current Pan-American Champions a level of knowledge compared to no other team in the world. Pessoa had already been invited by the former president of the entity, Ronaldo Bittencourt.
A Hall of Fame Inductee of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, Nelson Pessoa is one of the winningest riders of all time, having registered 150 Grand Prix victories, including the prestigious Hamburg Derby a record seven times. Besides that, the “Magician” has developed techniques, in regards to dealing with horses, that have become the standard for a lot of equestrians around the world.
At the age of 85, Pessoa continues active, working with high-level riders. Currently, he is training the Australian Eventing Team and also sharing his expertise with Haras Império Egípcio and their FEI-level rider, Francisco Musa (BRA), who also seeks a spot on the Brazilian team in the Olympic Games.
source: jumpernews.com