Relief is probably the word that best describes his feelings after his and Touchdown's visit to the arena in Versailles castle park.
They say it's just about forgetting and moving on, but it's not just about forgetting and moving on.
Of course, Tokyo was a very dark cloud. Now I can really say that I've ridden my fourth OS. My goal every time I ride a championship is to make myself, my horse, and my country proud, he says.
That's not how it was in Tokyo. That's how it is now.
Ready for the final
Kittel's 74,317 percent was more than enough to qualify for another visit to the arena on Sunday. There, he is one of 18 riders competing for medals in the individual OS final.
The goal was to qualify for the final, and I've done that. I'm very proud of how Touchdown fought for me. It's not easy to go straight in and ride through. You have to be on top, the horse has to be on top. And it's different conditions than you're used to, says Kittel.
The pair had a few minor mistakes here and there and didn't have the right spark. The explanation? Touchdown got nervous.
Went to the toilet
It's nature, and I can't change that. When he went to the toilet after the last increase, we had our best piaffer, which we normally don't have.
Next, it's about achieving a strong placement in the team final, which takes place on Saturday. If Therese Nilshagen and Dante don't encounter any major mishaps on Wednesday, Sweden will easily make it.
And then everything is at stake in the freestyle program the following day.
It's an honor to get to ride kür on Sunday. It's not easy. There are 60 starters, 18 go on, and the competition is razor-sharp, says Patrik Kittel.
