BAYDON-based eventer Marcio Jorge is hoping to put on a show for the host nation as he returns to perform at the Olympic Games.

Brazilian Jorge got into the sport having ridden horses at his father’s farm in Sao Paulo as a child but admits it is not one of the most popular sports in his homeland.

Now based in Wiltshire with Brook and Sally Johnson, Jorge has headed back to his home country with the hope of capturing the imagination of the country and putting his team on the medal podium.

“It means a lot to be competing in our home country,” he said.

“The Olympic Games means a lot for all athletes and for us we have the opportunity to do that at home, with all of our friends and family being able to watch.

“For the sport and for the riders it is very important because all the media and the press put more attention on us and this will help to improve the sport a lot.

“Show jumping in Brazil is very big and now we have some show jumpers coming across to eventing and the Olympics can only help grow the sport even more.”

One man who has been tasked with ensuring that Brazil improve on their ninth place finish in London four years ago is New Zealand legend Sir Mark Todd.

“It is very good working with Mark Todd,” added 41-year-old Jorge.

“I think we have improved a lot under him because he is a very nice person.

“His experience is very important because he has taken all the Brazilian riders to another place.

“We have worked a long time and of course the other trainers before him are important as well. Nick Turner took all our training before Mark and we learnt a lot during that period but Mark has helped all the riders step up.

“We have stepped up to be fighting for the high places, not just to compete.”

Jorge will be competing on 13-year-old mare Lissy Mac, who finished fifth in the Event Rider Masters at Barbury Castle last month and is seeking a repeat performance when the eventing gets underway on Saturday.

“She is an amazing mare and a nice mover, and we have been working a lot with her to do what she did at Barbury,” he said. “We knew she had it in her to pull off a performance like that in her but we had to work hard with her because she is a little bit hot.

“Now I think we have found that sweet spot for getting her ready for the test and if we can repeat what we did at Barbury then I think we can do well.”