The French Approach to the Olympics

Most of the promotional videos for the Olympic equestrian teams look like they were produced by ESPN: Fast-cut edits, pounding rock music, lots of rippling muscles, and don't forget periodic dirt being thrown in the camera lens. Tough. Ready. Edgey.

Ah, but then there's the French Olympic Committee's whimsical la-la-la of an animation short that looks like our friends at Apple computers lent a hand. Totally charming.

France, of course, is favored by many to take home the Individual Gold in Eventing, thanks to superstar Nicholas Touzaint and his high-flying Hidalgo de l'Ile. They won Badminton this year; it was the first time that anyone from France has won there, and also the first European to win since 1951!

There's nothing whimsical about him or his horse but his native country....vive la difference! Enjoy this video!

Touzaint and Hildalgo after their win at Badminton Horse Trials in May. (Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials/Kit Houghton photo)