Horse talked Skelton into comeback

Nick Skelton is providing one of the most remarkable stories of courage at the Games as he bids for a gold medal in tomorrow's showjumping.

The Briton endured months in a metal neck brace having been told by a top neurosurgeon to quit riding or risk fatal injury, after a fall in Cheshire in September 2000 that broke the C1 vertebrae in two places.

"The ligament that supports the bones snapped and tore a piece of bone away and I was told another fall could prove fatal," said Skelton.

But his Olympic dream was rekindled by his horse Arko. He added: "Arko is such a fantastic horse that my initial motivation was really to be able to compete with such a good horse."

Skelton and Arko produced a stunning clear round earlier in the week to secure a place in the final 45 riders. There was joy too for Robert Smith, who also made the final.