Almost a month after the curtain call of the Paris Olympics 2024, Indian equestrian Anush Agarwalla inked the Olympic rings on his forearms. The 25-year-old engraved his success on fulfilling his childhood dream of participating in the Olympics this year. Although a medal was not a part of his wall of fame this time, he won the hearts of millions. Anush finished ninth in Group E of the individual dressage qualifiers in Paris with a score of 66.444%. As he gets back to preparing for the next challenges, My Kolkata caught up with the young equestrian to learn about his Paris experience, what it taught him and more.
My Kolkata: It was your first time in the Olympics. What was your reaction when you got to know that you were selected?
Anush Agarwalla: Competing in the Olympic Games has always been a childhood dream. That's what I always wanted to achieve. It is the highest level of sport and I think it's the ultimate goal for every athlete. It's the ultimate aspiration that every athlete works for. So, I was very, very overwhelmed when I got to know that we finally made it. It was a very special moment.
‘I remember riding into the arena… they said it can’t get prettier than this’
Describe your experience of riding in the Olympic arena for the first time with Sir Caramello.
Riding into the Olympic arena in front of the Château de Versailles was one of those moments that I'll never forget. I remember riding into the arena with my coach by my side and I got goosebumps because it was such a special moment. It was not just an Olympic arena, it was the Olympic arena of my first-ever Olympics in front of the Château de Versailles. I do not know if I will ever ride with such a background again because even when I spoke to other athletes who have been to many Olympics, they said that it can't get prettier than this.
How did you prepare for the Olympics, and what was your training regime like?
I did not start doing different things or training more because of the Olympics. I've always been giving my 100% over the past six or seven years since I've been in Germany. So it was not like — it's the Olympics, so I have to work harder. I was doing what I have always been doing… like giving my 100%, staying calm and focusing on my horse. I was working on myself, working on my horse, improving by the day. Trying to give my best, thinking the rest will follow.
‘The most challenging part was to deal with the mental pressure’
What was the most challenging part of competing at the Olympics?
I think the most challenging part was to deal with the mental pressure. I knew that going into the Olympics, there were a lot of eyes on me. This is the first time that India made it to the Olympics stage in the sport of dressage. So there were a lot of expectations for me, especially since I had a very successful year in 2023, with two medals at the Asian Games. But I took it more as motivation. But to be honest, I think these high-pressure moments bring out the best in me.
Share a memorable moment or highlight from your Olympics experience.
When I rode into the arena for the first time, I remember looking towards the Château de Versailles and both me and my horse just stopped and gazed for a moment in the distance. How surreal it was! Another memorable moment was having my whole family and friends there to share this joy with me. They were cheering for me and motivating me. It was just very very special.
‘I am 100 per cent confident that, in the next Olympics, I will be in a good position to win a medal’
Your dream of an Olympic medal was not fulfilled this time. But you made the country proud with your participation. How do you plan to build on this experience for future competitions? Are you preparing for Los Angeles already?
My dream of an Olympic medal was not fulfilled this time, but we all know Rome was not built in a day. These things take time, and an Olympic medal is the highest achievement you can get in the sport. I am 100 per cent confident that, in the next Olympics, I will be in a good position to win a medal. I have gained a lot of experience, and exposure in the past one-and-a-half years. I am already back to training. Back to competing more and more, and working on myself. And with each competition, you get to know your weak points and strong points, and then you work on them. I started preparing for Los Angeles the moment I rode out of the arena in Paris, that's how it works. You know, you start working now and then you achieve your goal in four years. It's not like one month before the Olympics, I say to myself that now it's the Olympic month, I have to work hard, it never works like that. So my preparations for the Olympics began seven years ago when I came to Germany.
Do you have a favourite Olympic Village experience or story to share?
It was my first time staying in a proper games village because, at the Asian Games, we were not located in the main athletes' village because the riding venue was far away. It was just very special to see many big personalities in sports and other fields in the village all within the same proximity. It was just amazing to see them in real life.
How did you connect with fellow athletes from other countries and sports? Did you also get a chance to explore the City of Love and try the local food?
To be honest, I already knew most of the other athletes competing in Equestrian because we have been competing with and against each other over the past few years. We used to travel from the village to the venue, and back to the village. So it was quite fun. Of course, I also got to know some other athletes from different sports whom I did not know before, and it was also nice to meet so many people from different backgrounds and countries. I did not get to go out much because I was focussed on my sport and, you know, with horses, you have to dedicate a lot of time. We are up early in the morning to see if everything is fine and then late in the evening as well. So I did not really get much time to do other things, but when my family came, we went out for dinner one evening and that was a good experience overall.
Meeting a volunteer-turned-fan in Paris
Any interesting or memorable interactions you had with locals or fans that you would like to share?
One interesting or memorable interaction I remember was from the day I was leaving the village. I came out with two suitcases and one of the volunteers — I think she was around 15 or 16 — asked me if she could help me carry my bags. I said, “No, I have to go far.” She said, “No, no, don't worry. I’m free anyway. I can help you.” Then she asked me what sport I participated in and I told her horse riding. She was like “Oh, you’re the only one from India competing in equestrian, right? And it's the first time for India as well?!” I was like, “Yes, how do you know that?” She said that she had read it on the internet, and she had wanted to meet the person. So it was crazy that she ended up helping me without knowing who I was. As a token of appreciation for the help, I gave her one of the pins that I had exchanged over the past few days. She was very excited about that. It was very funny and a great coincidence.
What will you miss most about Paris and the Olympics experience now that it's over?
I will miss everything. Every moment will be etched in my memory. If I could, I would want to go back and do it all over again. I am grateful for the experience and grateful for the way it went. I gathered a lot of experience and knowledge, and I am looking forward to using this in the upcoming Olympic Games in Los Angeles.