Top equestrian and three-time Olympic medal winner Andrew Nicholson is taking on old teammates at his first big international event since a fall last year, which nearly ended his career.
In his first television interview since the accident, Nicholson talked to Newshub about Rio, recovery and the bad blood between him and Equestrian Sport New Zealand (ESNZ).
Riding in the fields outside his home in the English countryside is the most natural thing in the world for Nicholson, but it is still a small miracle. Nine months ago the six-time Olympian was facing down potential paralysis.
"It hasn't shaken my confidence, but I know I'm not same as I was before and respect that a bit," he says.
Now he's facing up to Badminton -- his first big international since his neck injury -- but he's never doubted he'd recover.
"I felt I could hop up and show them I was all right."
He's called 'Mr Stickability' with good reason. Just four months after his fall he was back in the saddle.
"To go back and ride was easier than most other things I was doing. That's what I've done all my life. I've done more riding than walking."
Nicholson was planning to ride prize gelding Avebury at Badminton, but at 16 he's just been put to pasture.
"It's quite easy to make that decision when you know what they've done for you."
Badminton will see Nicholson pitted against old Olympic teammates. A stoush and stalled negotiations with ESNZ mean it's uncertain they'll ever be teammates again.
"I don't hear from ESNZ to say whether they're considering me or not [for Rio]."
After a fight with the High Performance team's vet in 2014, Nicholson left the squad and the funding that goes with it.
"Financially it's a blow, especially with all the physio, neurophysiology and all that stuff, but that's life."
The sports' bosses at ESNZ say they're open to Nicholson re-joining the squad but on their terms, not his.
"I'm sure there must be [bad blood with ESNZ]," says Nicholson. "For me they haven't given me any respect whatsoever.
That is spurring rumours Nicholson might go British, which he's ruling out for now.
"No, I'm not taking out a British riding licence. I'm sticking with the Kiwi at the moment."
"At the moment" because, like the past nine months, Nicholson is taking one step at a time, and his next step to Badminton is massive.
Newshub.
