It’s not everyone’s idea of the perfect rehab for a serious head injury, but Britain’s William Fox-Pitt defied all the odds to hold the lead after Olympic eventing dressage wrapped up today at Deodoro Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro.

Riding the 16-year-old stallion Chilli Morning, the man who spent two weeks in an induced coma after a fall while competing in France last October threw down a score of 37.00.

“All along Rio has been my target, totally,” the 47-year-old rider said. “It was unrealistic, but it was mine. I was in a coma for a couple of weeks and my sight was quite dodgy, I went from blind to seeing double so when I started jumping there were two jumps. It’s been a journey, but I’ve had so much support.”

Fox-Pitt was his usual modest self in talking about his ride with Chilli Morning. “He’s good on the flat, capable of doing a very good test and I didn’t want to let him down. He felt happy and calm, but there are a lot of good horses to come and it will be what it will be