August 14, 2016 
They strode into the packed stadium at Deodoro Olympic Park in Rio de Janiero, picked up a gallop, and took a long lap before the clang of the start bell. A red coat on a bay horse streaking around the arena.
There was a spook on the way to the first jump. A slight rub at A of the triple combination. Then a tricky bending line from a double combination to the final oxer. And, to the last, the sound of Ian Millar’s yells urging them over the final fence. A clear round for Canada!
Amy Millar made her Olympic debut at the 2016 Games today, following in the formidable footsteps of her father. It was her first championship and the first faultess performance for the Canadian team.
“It feels amazing. I’m so happy!” smiled Millar.
“Anything can happen at the Olympics. We see it in every sport. It’s about keeping it together here [in your head]. I’ve known all along that my horse has never been in better form than he has this week. He feels amazing. I just had to make sure that I was in the same place.”
Amy’s first Games coincided with Ian’s first absence from the Canadian Olympic team in 48 years. His horse was sidelined by a minor surgery earlier this year and was not back in work in time to contest what would have been Millar’s 11th Games. Ian is in Rio helping his daughter instead.
“He said he was quite stressed out about that last line. He said he couldn’t even watch that part, which is unusual. I’ve never heard him say that,” laughed Amy.
While some might feel pressure to live up to the near impossibly high standard set by the 10-time Olympian, Amy says her father’s experience is her competitive advantage. Both in the ring and out.
“There are a lot of things that are unique to the Olympic experience. When I came up with 50 questions last week, he knew all the answers. It’s not even things about riding—it’s logistics and everything else. I don’t want to worry about anything other than going around that ring clear, so his experience is really beneficial to me,” she said.
“Not to mention, we walk the course and he knows immediately what needs to be done.”
Had they competed in a sport other than show jumping, it may have been a different story.
“If we were both runners, maybe there would be a lot more pressure because it’s about how fast you are. Here, it’s about your partner. There are ups and downs,” continued Amy.
“I don’t feel that I have to be him. I feel like I should be me and I’m very proud of everything that he is.”
The reversal in roles means Captain Canada is in the nerve-wracking position of watching his daughter compete from the Kiss ‘n Cry.
“It’s definitely easier to do it myself!” said Ian. “I must say it’s a whole new level of excitement and it gives me such pride and joy and pleasure to watch Amy do it. There’s just nothing like it. It just doesn’t compare.”
As one of 24 clear rides over Guilherme Jorge’s testing course, Amy is now firmly in contention for the individual final. Team Canada tied for third behind Brazil and Germany in today’s opening round, giving them the advantage of a late draw in the order for Nations Cup when the team score resets to zero.
Team USA’s Ken
All but one rider will advance to the second round come Tuesday. Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts was disqualified for excessive use of the spurs after his horse stopped twice on course. The Netherlands Jur Vrieling has also been disqualified from the individual final for excessive use of the whip but may still contest the Nations Cup for his country.
