Brazil’s 2004 Olympic champion Rodrigo Pessoa talks to Pippa Roome about giving up his Irish performance management role to return to the competitive fray and target Tokyo
“I hate it. I hate it. From day one, I hated it.” Rodrigo Pessoa’s sudden intensity takes me by surprise. Until now, sitting chatting in the VIP area at the Palm Beach Masters in Florida, having just been third in a class, he has seemed a laid-back kind of guy.
But when I ask the Brazilian’s thoughts on the new Olympic format of three riders to a team, which will be used in Tokyo next year, I can see the passion which has made him one of the best riders in the world – world and Olympic champion, three-time winner of the World Cup Final and more.
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YXJlIHVwIGFnYWluc3QgYSBjb25zdGFudCBiYXR0bGUgaW4gcGVyc3VhZGluZyByaWRlcnMgYW5kIG93bmVycyB0byBqdW1wIHRvcCBob3JzZXMgZm9yIHRoZWlyIG5hdGlvbiByYXRoZXIgdGhhbiBwcmlvcml0aXNlIGx1Y3JhdGl2ZSBHbG9iYWwgQ2hhbXBpb25zIFRvdXIgcHJpemUgcG90cy48L3A+CjxwPuKAnEZvciBzdXJlLCBub3dhZGF5cyB3aXRoIHRoZSBwdXJzZXMgb2ZmZXJlZCwgaXTigJlzIGRpZmZpY3VsdCB0byBnZXQgcGVvcGxlIHRvIGNvbW1pdCwgYnV0IElyZWxhbmQgaXMgc3BlY2lhbCBmb3IgdGhhdCDigJMgdGhlIGJveXMgd2FudCB0byByaWRlIGluIHRoZSBncmVlbiBqYWNrZXQsIHdoaWNoIGlzIGZhbnRhc3RpYyBmb3IgdGhlIGNoZWYgZOKAmWVxdWlwZSzigJ0gc2F5cyBSb2RyaWdvLjwvcD4KPHA+4oCcV2UgaGFkIHNvbWUgY2xhc2hlcyBvZiBjYWxlbmRhciwgYnV0IHRoYXTigJlzIHBhcnQgb2YgaXQgYW5kIEkgdW5kZXJzdGFuZCB0aGVpciBvYmxpZ2F0aW9ucyBhcyB3ZWxsIHRvIG1ha2UgbW9uZXkuIE9idmlvdXNseSwgaW4gYSBqb2IgbGlrZSB0aGF0LCB5b3UgY2Fu4oCZdCBwbGVhc2UgZXZlcnlvbmUgYWxsIHRoZSB0aW1lLCBidXQgSSB0aGluayB3ZSBkaWQgdGhlIGJlc3Qgd2UgY291bGQgdG8gZ2l2ZSBldmVyeWJvZHkgYSBmYWlyIGNoYW5jZS7igJ08L3A+CjxwPlJvZHJpZ28gdGhpbmtzIGhlIHdpbGwgcmV0dXJuIHRvIHRlYW0gbWFuYWdlbWVudCBpbiB0aGUgZnV0dXJlLjwvcD4KPHA+4oCcSSBkaWQgZW5qb3kgaXQuIFRoZSBodW1hbiBhc3BlY3QgaXMgc3BlY2lhbCwgdG8gZ2V0IHRvIGtub3cgZXZlcnlib2R5IG11Y2ggZGVlcGVyIHRoYW4geW91IGtub3cgdGhlbSBhdCBzaG93cy4gSXQgd2FzIGludGVyZXN0aW5nLOKAnSBoZSByZWZsZWN0cy48L3A+CjxwPlRoZSBkZWNpc2lvbiB0byBzdGVwIGRvd24gY2FtZSBiZWNhdXNlIFJvZHJpZ28gd2FzIG9mZmVyZWQgdGhlIGNoYW5jZSB0byByaWRlIGZvciBhbiBvdXRzdGFuZGluZyBvd25lciwgSmltIENsYXJrIG9mIEFydGVtaXMgRmFybXMuIEhlIGhhZCBib3VnaHQgdHdvIGhvcnNlcyBmb3IgdGhlIEJyYXppbGlhbiB0byByaWRlIGF0IHRoZSBzdGFydCBvZiAyMDE5IGFuZCB0aGVuIGRlY2lkZWQgdG8gbW92ZSBmb3VyIG1vcmUgZnJvbSBNYXJrdXMgYW5kIE1lcmVkaXRoIEJlZXJiYXVtIHRvIFJvZHJpZ28gZm9yIDIwMjAuPC9wPgo8cD5Sb2RyaWdvIGV4cGxhaW5zOiDigJxJIGhhZCB0aGUgb3Bwb3J0dW5pdHkgb2YgTXIgQ2xhcmsgd2FudGluZyB0byBiYWNrIGFub3RoZXIgcmlkZXIuIEhlIHNhaWQsIOKAmElmIHlvdSB3YW50IHRvIGRvIGl0LCBsZXTigJlzIGdvLuKAmSBJIGNhbiBhbHdheXMgZ28gYmFjayB0byB0aGUgY29hY2hpbmcsIGJ1dCB0aGUgcmlkaW5nIHdhcyBhbiBvcHBvcnR1bml0eSBJIGNvdWxkIG5vdCBnaXZlIHVwLjwvcD4KPHA+4oCcSWYgeW91IHdhbnQgdG8gZG8gc29tZXRoaW5nIHdlbGwsIHlvdSBoYXZlIHRvIGZvY3VzIG9uIG9uZSB0aGluZy4gV2hlbiBJIHdhcyB0cmFpbmluZyB0aGUgSXJpc2gsIEkgd2FzIHN0aWxsIHJpZGluZywgYnV0IGp1c3QgdG8ga2VlcCBpbiBzaGFwZSBhbmQgbXkgY2FsZW5kYXIgd2FzIHZlcnkgc2Vjb25kYXJ5IOKAkyB0aGUgbnVtYmVyIG9uZSBwcmlvcml0eSB3YXMgdGhlbS4gWW91IGNhbuKAmXQgZG8gdGhlIHR3byB0aGluZ3Mgd2VsbC7igJ08L3A+CjxwPkhlIGJlbGlldmVzIHRoZSBleHBlcmllbmNlZCBNaWNoYWVsIEJsYWtlIGlzIOKAnHRoZSBwZXJmZWN0IHBlcnNvbuKAnSB0byBoYXZlIHRha2VuIG92ZXIgZnJvbSBoaW0gYXMgSXJpc2ggaGlnaCBwZXJmb3JtYW5jZSBtYW5hZ2VyLjwvcD4KPHA+4oCcSSB3aXNoIHRoZW0gdGhlIGJlc3QgYW5kIGhvcGUgaXQgZ29lcyB3ZWxsLOKAnSBoZSBzYXlzLjwvcD4KPGgzPlRhcmdldCBUb2t5bzwvaDM+CjxwPlJvZHJpZ2\/igJlzIE9seW1waWMgaG9wZWZ1bCBpcyB0aGUgMTEteWVhci1vbGQgUXVhbGl0eSBGWi4gSGlzIHByZXZpb3VzIHJpZGVycyBpbmNsdWRlIEp1ciBWcmllbGluZyBhbmQgRXJpYyBMYW1hemUgYW5kIGhlIGFscmVhZHkgaGFkIGZpdmUtc3RhciBleHBlcmllbmNlIHdoZW4gUm9kcmlnbyB0b29rIGhpbSBvbiBlYXJseSBsYXN0IHllYXIsIHdoaWNoIHdhcyB3aGF0IFJvZHJpZ28gYW5kIHRoZSBDbGFya3MgbmVlZGVkIHRvIHRhcmdldCBUb2t5byBvbiB3aGF0IHdhcyBvcmlnaW5hbGx5IHN1Y2ggYSBzaG9ydCB0aW1lIGZyYW1lLjwvcD4KPHA+4oCcV2UgZGlkbuKAmXQgaGF2ZSB0aW1lIHRvIGdldCBzb21ldGhpbmcgeW91bmcgYW5kIHByb2R1Y2UgaXQs4oCdIHNheXMgUm9kcmlnby4g4oCcSXTigJlzIGRpZmZpY3VsdCB0byBidXkgaG9yc2VzIG9mIHRoYXQgcXVhbGl0eSBhbmQgbGV2ZWwsIHNvIHlvdSBjYW7igJl0IGJlIHRvbyBwaWNreS4gWW91IGhhdmUgdG8gYmUgYWJsZSB0byBhZGFwdCBhcyB3ZWxsLiBIZeKAmXMgYSBzd2VldCBob3JzZSwgY2FyZWZ1bCB3aXRoIGEgbG90IG9mIHBvd2VyLCBidXQgaGXigJlzIHN0aWxsIGEgbGl0dGxlIGJpdCB0ZW5zZSBhbmQgbm90IDEwMCUgaW4gZGlmZmVyZW50IGVudmlyb25tZW50cy4gQnV0IGhlIGhhcyBhIGxvdCBvZiBwb3RlbnRpYWwu4oCdPC9wPgo8cD5Sb2RyaWdvIGFuZCBoaXMgd2lmZSBBbGV4YSBtb3ZlZCB0byBDb25uZWN0aWN1dCB0aHJlZSB5ZWFycyBhZ28uIFRoZXkgaGF2ZSB0d28gY2hpbGRyZW4g4oCTIFNvcGhpYSwgbmluZSwgYW5kIEx1Y2lhbmEsIHRocmVlIOKAkyBhbmQgUm9kcmlnbyBhbHNvIGhhcyBhIDE1LXllYXItb2xkIGRhdWdodGVyIENlY2lsaWEgd2l0aCBoaXMgZXgtd2lmZSBLZXJpIFBvdHRlci4gSXQgd2FzIHRocm91Z2ggdGhlaXIgY2hpbGRyZW4gb2YgYSBzaW1pbGFyIGFnZSB0aGF0IFJvZHJpZ28gbWV0IHRoZSBDbGFya3MuIENlY2lsaWEgZG9lcyBub3QgcmlkZSwgYnV0IFNvcGhpYSBhbmQgTHVjaWFuYSBkby48L3A+CjxwPuKAnFdlIGRvbuKAmXQgcHVzaCB0aGVtLiBUaGV5IGhhdmUgYSBwb255IGFuZCB0aGV5IHJpZGUgYSBiaXQsIHNvIHdl4oCZbGwgc2VlIHdoYXQgaGFwcGVucyzigJ0gc2F5cyBSb2RyaWdvLjwvcD4KPHA+SGUgdXN1YWxseSBqdW1wcyB0aGUgRmxvcmlkYSBjaXJjdWl0IGZvciB0aHJlZSBtb250aHMgaW4gdGhlIHNwcmluZywgZW5qb3lpbmcgdGhlIG9wcG9ydHVuaXR5IHRvIGJlIGJhc2VkIGluIG9uZSBwbGFjZSBhbmQg4oCcZ2V0IG91dCBvZiB0aGUgY29sZCBmb3IgdGhlc2UgdGhyZWUgbW9udGhz4oCdLjwvcD4KPHA+U2hvd3MgaW4gRXVyb3BlIHNob3VsZCBoYXZlIGZvbGxvd2VkIGZyb20gTWF5IG9ud2FyZHMgdGhpcyB5ZWFyLCB1bnRpbCBjb3JvbmF2aXJ1cyBpbnRlcnJ1cHRlZCBwbGFucy48L3A+CjxwPuKAnEnigJl2ZSBiZWVuIGx1Y2t5IHRvIGdvIHRvIHNpeCBPbHltcGljIEdhbWVzIGFuZCwgaWYgeW91IGhhdmUgYSBob3JzZSB0aGF04oCZcyBhYmxlIHRvIGRvIGl0LCB0aGF04oCZcyB3aGVyZSB5b3Ugd2FudCB0byBnbyBiZWNhdXNlIHRoYXTigJlzIHRoZSBiaWdnZXN0IHRoaW5nIHlvdSBjYW4gZ28gdG8s4oCdIHNheXMgUm9kcmlnby4g4oCcQnV0IEkgZG9u4oCZdCB3YW50IHRvIGdvIGp1c3QgdG8gY29tcGV0ZSwganVzdCB0byBwdXQgaW4gc2NvcmVzLiBJIHdhbnQgdG8gZ28gaWYgSSBjYW4gaGVscCB0aGUgdGVhbSBkbyB3ZWxsLiBJZiBJIGZlZWwgdGhlIGhvcnNlIGlzIG5vdCB1cCB0byBwYXIsIEkgd29u4oCZdCBmb3JjZSBteXNlbGYgb24g4oCTIEnigJlsbCBiZSByZWFzb25hYmxlLiBUaGF04oCZcyB3aGVyZSBleHBlcmllbmNlIGNvbWVzIGludG8gcGxheS4gWW91IGFyZSBtb3JlIHNlbnNpYmxlIHdoZW4geW91IGhhdmUgZG9uZSB0aGlzIGZvciBhIHdoaWxlLuKAnTwvcD4KPHA+QnV0IHdoZW4gaGUgaGFzIGdvb2QgaG9yc2VzLCBSb2RyaWdvIHNheXMg4oCcdGhlIHRocmlsbCBvZiBjb21wZXRpdGlvbiBpcyBqdXN0IGZhbnRhc3RpY+KAnS48L3A+CjxwPuKAnEkgZW5qb3kgdGhhdCBhbmQgYmVpbmcgYWJsZSB0byBjb21lIG91dCBhbmQgY29tcGV0ZS4gSXTigJlzIGp1c3QgdGhlIGJlc3QgZmVlbGluZyBpbiB0aGUgd29ybGQu4oCdPC9wPgo8aDM+Um9kcmlnbyBvbiYjODIzMDs8L2gzPgo8cD48c3Ryb25nPkhpcyBmaXJzdCBjaGFtcGlvbnNoaXAgaG9yc2UsIFNwZWNpYWwgRW52b3k8L3N0cm9uZz48L3A+CjxwPuKAnEhlIHB1dCBtZSBvbiB0aGUgbWFwLiBIZSB0YXVnaHQgbWUgdG8gYmUgY29tcGV0aXRpdmUsIGZvcmdhdmUgbXkgbWlzdGFrZXMuIFdlIHdlcmUgYWJsZSB0byB3aW4gYSBsb3Qgb2YgZ3JhbmRzIHByaXggYW5kIGhlIHRvb2sgbWUgdG8gdGhlIE9seW1waWNzIGFuZCBXb3JsZCBFcXVlc3RyaWFuIEdhbWVzIHdoZW4gSSB3YXMgYSB0ZWVuYWdlciwgZXZlbiB0aG91Z2ggaXQgd2FzIHRvdWdoIGZvciBoaW0gYmVjYXVzZSBoZSBkaWRu4oCZdCByZWFsbHkgaGF2ZSB0aGUgcG93ZXIgdG8gZG8gaXQu4oCdPC9wPgo8cD48c3Ryb25nPkhpcyB0aHJlZS10aW1lIFdvcmxkIEN1cCBmaW5hbCB3aW5uZXIgQmFsb3ViZXQgRHUgUm91ZXQ8L3N0cm9uZz48L3A+CjxwPuKAnEhlIHdhcyB0aGUgaG9yc2Ugb2YgYSBsaWZldGltZSBhbmQgYSBmcmVhayBvZiBuYXR1cmUsIGEgaG9yc2Ugd2hvIGhhZCBldmVyeXRoaW5nIHlvdSB3YW50IGZyb20gYSBzaG93anVtcGVyLiBIZSBoYWQgdGhlIHBvd2VyLCB3YXMgY2FyZWZ1bCwgaW50ZWxsaWdlbnQuPC9wPgo8cD7igJxJIGRvbuKAmXQgZXhwZWN0IHRoYXQgSeKAmWxsIGNvbWUgYWNyb3NzIGFub3RoZXIgb25lIGxpa2UgdGhhdC4gRXZlcnlvbmUgd2hv4oCZcyBoYWQgYSBob3JzZSBsaWtlIHRoYXQg4oCTIHdoZXRoZXIgaXTigJlzIFNodXR0ZXJmbHksIEhpY2tzdGVhZCBvciBSYXRpbmEgWiDigJMgeW91IGFsd2F5cyB0aGluayB0aGF04oCZcyB0aGUgYmVzdCBob3JzZSBvZiBhbGwgdGltZS4gV2XigJlyZSBqdXN0IGZvcnR1bmF0ZSB0byBiZSBhYmxlIHRvIGNyb3NzIHBhdGhzIHdpdGggaG9yc2VzIGxpa2UgdGhhdC7igJ08L3A+CjxwPjxzdHJvbmc+R3Jvd2luZyB1cCB3aXRoIHRocmVlLXRpbWUgSGlja3N0ZWFkIERlcmJ5IHdpbm5lciBOZWxzb24gUGVzc29hIGFzIGhpcyBmYXRoZXI8L3N0cm9uZz48L3A+CjxwPuKAnEhpcyBiZWluZyBhIHByb2Zlc3Npb25hbCBmYWNpbGl0YXRlZCBhIGxvdCBvZiB0aGluZ3MuIEkgYWxyZWFkeSBoYWQgYSBzdHJ1Y3R1cmUgaW4gcGxhY2UuIEJ1dCB3aXRoIHRoYXQgY2FtZSB0aGUgcHJlc3N1cmUgYW5kIGV4cGVjdGF0aW9uIOKAkyBhbmQgdGhlIGNyaXRpY3MsIHdoaWNoIGlzIGFsd2F5cyBkaWZmaWN1bHQuIEJ1dCBJIHdhcyBhYmxlIHRvIHRha2UgaXQgYW5kIG1ha2UgdGhlIHNpdHVhdGlvbiBhcyBlbmNvdXJhZ2luZyBhcyBwb3NzaWJsZS4gSSB3YXMgZm9ydHVuYXRlIHRvIGJlIGluIHRoYXQgcG9zaXRpb24uPC9wPgo8cD7igJxNeSBmYXRoZXIgdGFrZXMgbW9yZSBvZiBhIGJhY2sgc2VhdCBub3csIGJ1dCBoZeKAmXMgc3RpbGwgcGFzc2lvbmF0ZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgc3BvcnQuIFdlIHRhbGsgZXZlcnkgZGF5IGFib3V0IHRoZSBob3JzZXMu4oCdPC9wPgo8cD48c3Ryb25nPkhpcyBpZG9sLCBMdWRnZXIgQmVlcmJhdW08L3N0cm9uZz48L3A+CjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9ImluamVjdGlvbiI+PC9kaXY+CjxwPuKAnEhlIHdhcyB0aGUgcGVyc29uIEkgY2hhc2VkIGZyb20gdGhlIGJlZ2lubmluZyBiZWNhdXNlLCBhcyBhIDE5LXllYXItb2xkLCBJIHNhdyBoaW0gd2luIHRoZSBPbHltcGljcyBhZnRlciBicmVha2luZyBoaXMgcmVpbi4gSSB0aG91Z2h0LCDigJhKZWV6LCB0aGF0IHRha2VzIGEgbG90IG9mIGRldGVybWluYXRpb24u4oCZIEhlIHdhcyB0aGUgbWFuIHRvIGJlYXQgaW4gdGhhdCBtb21lbnQsIHRoZSBidWxsc2V5ZSBmb3IgbWUuIEV2ZW4gc28sIGhlIHdhcyBhbHdheXMgZ2VuZXJvdXMgd2l0aCBhbGwgaGlzIHN1cHBvcnQgYW5kIGFkdmljZTsgaGUgd2FzIGEgZ3JlYXQgcGVyc29uIHRvIGlkb2xpc2Uu4oCdPC9wPgo8cD48ZW0+UmVmIEhvcnNlICZhbXA7IEhvdW5kOyAyMyBBcHJpbCAyMDIwPC9lbT48L3A+CjxwPgo="}
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H&H magazine editor and eventing editor
Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
