Septuagenarian dreams of Tokyo after Rio blow

Japan's equestrian rider Hiroshi Hoketsu speaks at a news conference in Tokyo April 12, 2012. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

BERLIN (Reuters) - Japan's Hiroshi Hoketsu will miss out on a chance to become the oldest ever Olympian at Rio due to his horse's ill health but the 75-year-old remains hopeful of establishing the record at Tokyo 2020, some 56 years after his first Games.

Hoketsu, who made his Olympic debut in show jumping at the 1964 Tokyo Games before turning to dressage and riding in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Games, said a spot in Tokyo would see his career come full circle.