The bittersweet tale of Boyd Martin just got a little sweeter. Though the Olympics are meant to be celebratory, some emotional stories are also taking place here. One of the biggest ones is Martin riding Bruno, the horse of the late equestrian Annie Goodwin. So with the entire world’s eye on this duo, at least for now, Martin and Bruno are off to a great start. 

While Team USA ranks 9th in Cross-Country equestrian, the performances of Boyd Martin and Fedarman B (Bruno) are quite encouraging. The Olympians’ home team cleared with just a 1.60-time penalty and were by far the highest-placed American team in Paris 2024. However, there’s still a long road to travel for the duo, who want to win the first Olympic medals of their careers.

The road isn’t easy for Team USA, especially after the tea 128.50-time delay that they recorded. However, while the team had its share of problems, Martin and Bruno put on a class display. The 1.60 penalty is evidence of that. However, this was far more than just an athletic display; this was an emotional moment for Martin, partly because of Bruno and partly because of his own physical issues.

“It’s emotional, you know? I try not to think about it too much,” Martin said about Annie Goodwin before the event. He later said that it’s a great story that her horse Bruno is getting to be in the Olympics. But sadly, she isn’t a part of that journey now. That makes this Olympics doubly important for Boyd Martin; he’s doing this not just for him but for Annie Goodwin.

Boyd Martin’s emotional journey to the Olympics

Though equestrian has perhaps the oldest set of athletes, at 44, Martin comes somewhere in the middle of that age group. However, despite being just 44, the 4-time Olympian has undergone 22 surgeries and 19 broken bones. On top of that, he has 5 plates, 2 screws, and a metal road in his body. The sport has clearly taken its toll. So naturally, his emotions ran high right before the Olympics began.

From the arctic plunge to a strict workout, Martin has had to do a lot to manage his body. “As you get older, you get stiffer and sore and then that’s sort of impacting your balance and your reaction,” Martin said to Olympic reporters. “Because a lot of it is balance and core strength on the horse.” The Australian-American athlete is focused not only on his health but also on Annie Goodwin’s legacy. However, the competition isn’t easy.

The American team finished 9th in cross country with a 128.50 penalty. On top sits Great Britain with 82.50. As a result, there’s a lot of competition ahead for the players. Could Martin and Bruno do the unthinkable and win their first Olympic medal? That remains to be seen.