AN UPTON vet is jetting out to Rio on July 29 for his fifth Olympic Games with the Australian equestrian team.

Graham Potts is feeling nervous and excited ahead of his trip to Brazil as head vet of the Olympic team.

Mr Potts, who moved to Upton in 1990, said: “We are flying from Stansted to Rio with five horses.

“It’s a long road and everything worries you; the health of the horses, their safety, how they will perform, travel and recover.

“Once in Rio you can’t ring up for another horse so we have to look after their welfare in Rio too.

“I’m at Worcester racecourse this evening as a duty vet and next week I will be in Rio. I treat it as the same job on a different day.”

Mr Potts, 56, said he is hopeful that the team will win some medals at Rio despite stiff competition.

“I’m most involved in the eventing team, which covers show jumping, dressage and cross-county,” he said.

“The Australian eventing team has a good eventing record. We won gold in Barcelona, gold in Atlanta, gold in Sydney and silver in Beijing.”

Mr Potts said winning in Sydney was phenomenal as the team was competing at home.

“For Sydney we flew the horses 12,000 miles and arrived five days before it started,” he said.

Mr Potts got involved with the Australian team after meeting the team vet through his work at a Sydney horse clinic in the 1980s.

Upon returning to the UK, Mr Potts settled in Upton and became the third vet at Three Counties Equine Hospital.

“I’m a partner at the practice and we have 16 vets. We treat all horses from miniature Shetland ponies to an Olympic contender.”

The Australian equestrian team will also compete in showjumping and dressage at the games.

Sara Treacy, a junior doctor at Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, is also set to take part in the Rio Olympics.

Ms Treacy, who will represent Ireland in the 3000m steeplechase race, said she was excited to get to Rio.

“This will be my first games but I'm thrilled to be involved and represent Ireland in the Olympics,” she said.

“It's great to have support at home to know I'll be being cheered on back in Redditch and across Worcestershire’s hospitals too.”

A spokesperson for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “It’s fantastic to see a member of staff realise such a great personal achievement.

“We wish Sara every success in her race in Rio and hope she can bring back a medal to show her colleagues in Redditch who will all be cheering her on.”