Tim Collins? Olympic quest went down to the wire but he has successfully qualified a mount for the Summer Games.

The equestrian will carry the Island?s hope for glory aboard which earned the right to compete in Athens at the final qualifying meet in early June.

It was a do-or-die scenario for the Bermudian whose other mount, , fell lame on the eve of the qualifier ? the Punchestown International Horse Trials in Ireland ? leaving Collins with no other options.

?My objective wasn?t to go there and win or get a place. It was to make sure I had a horse that was sound and that finished (the course) and that qualified for the Olympics, which we did,? said a relieved Collins, speaking to from Holland.

?It was more difficult than I thought...to just go slowly and to make sure the horse qualified, it was more difficult to do that than to go for it like you?re in a competition.?

Given that he was down to one horse in the final qualifier, he was quite apprehensive and nervous.

?Knowing this was my last chance to get this horse qualified for Athens and that if he didn?t qualify or if he got injured, then it was all gone ? my Olympics would be over ? there was a lot of pressure.?

As for ?s demise, the England-based rider explained the horse would probably need a six-month lay-off after suffering an inflamed tendon.

While that mount rests, Collins? full focus will be on the task at hand and, following a rigorous qualifying path, the hard work is just beginning.

?Now I have to really prepare properly. Just having a sound horse to go to Athens is no good, you have to be on top of your game. You have to make sure your dressage is perfect. You have to be one with your horse,? he pointed out.

A rider?s fitness is also integral, said the 28-year-old who is currently on a diet to shed 20 to 25 pounds and who resumes training next week after giving a much-needed break.

Not content to simply ?go to Athens?, Collins has promised himself that he will only make the trip if he is at his best.

?I don?t want to go to Athens if I?m not ready. If I don?t feel like I can go there and represent Bermuda in a respectable way then I won?t go.

?A lot of people go to the Olympics just to be there. For me it?s a dream to go to the Olympics but to go and achieve a goal. I want to finish well and to gain respect within the OIympics and at home. That?s what I really want.?

He is also hoping his results will be good enough to secure automatic qualification for future events.

?If I got into the top 15 I would be very, very happy ? top 20 would be very good also,? said Collins who will be among 75 competitors.

Considering his chances, the Bermudian noted that ?on the right day, my horse can do very well...but how well I don?t know because I have not competed against that class of field yet?.

?He can do a good dressage test. He is very clean jumping cross country and he is normally a very good show jumper,? said the rider of his mount.

As for where he was performance-wise and what he will be doing in the coming weeks, the Olympics-bound sportsman responded: ?I?m nearly at my best but I need two or three weeks to polish my dressage up with my wife (a dressage coach and rider) and have jumping lesson with my coach.

?It?s a matter of going back and seeing again and getting a feel of him and working out the little bits and pieces.?