Jason HeimOlympics: Zara Phillips Out Of Olympics
June 29th 2008 21:57
Category: Olympic Games
Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter, Zara Phillips, has pulled out of the Olympics because of an injury to her horse, the same reason she pulled out of the last Olympics. There was no mention of politics or smog in Beijing, but it does raise questions about the effect the sport has on he horses.
The 26-year-old Phillips had been among five riders selected to the eventing team by the British Olympic Association and was considered a strong medal contender.
But she was forced to withdraw after her horse, Toytown, was injured in training.
"I am very disappointed not to have the opportunity to ride at the Olympic Games and feel that Toytown deserved his chance to go," Phillips said in a statement.
"However, with horses these things happen and we still have a very strong team. I wish them every success."
A reserve rider and horse combination will now be selected by the BOA.
"This must be a huge disappointment to Zara, particularly following the pair's success over the last few years," BOA chief executive Simon Clegg said.
"Naturally, we now need to focus our full support on the rest of the team, including Zara's replacement."
A leg injury to Toytown in 2004 kept Phillips out of the Athens Olympics.
"The British team are saddened by the news, especially for Zara and her team," British equestrian team leader Will Connell said.
"We have a strong team of reserves and the team are now focused on trying to win medals."
Phillips won the individual gold on Toytown in the three-day eventing competition at the World Equestrian Games in 2006 in Aachen, Germany. She was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Her father, Mark Phillips, won a gold medal in the three-day event at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Her mother, Princess Anne, won the European title in 1971 and competed at the 1976 Montreal Olympics in the same event.
In 2005, Phillips won individual and team gold at the European Eventing Championships.
Last September, she helped Britain win its seventh consecutive team gold medal at the European Eventing Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy.
But she left in tears after Toytown stopped in the showjumping to keep her from consecutive individual golds.
The 26-year-old Phillips had been among five riders selected to the eventing team by the British Olympic Association and was considered a strong medal contender.
But she was forced to withdraw after her horse, Toytown, was injured in training.
"I am very disappointed not to have the opportunity to ride at the Olympic Games and feel that Toytown deserved his chance to go," Phillips said in a statement.
"However, with horses these things happen and we still have a very strong team. I wish them every success."
A reserve rider and horse combination will now be selected by the BOA.
"This must be a huge disappointment to Zara, particularly following the pair's success over the last few years," BOA chief executive Simon Clegg said.
"Naturally, we now need to focus our full support on the rest of the team, including Zara's replacement."
A leg injury to Toytown in 2004 kept Phillips out of the Athens Olympics.
"The British team are saddened by the news, especially for Zara and her team," British equestrian team leader Will Connell said.
"We have a strong team of reserves and the team are now focused on trying to win medals."
Phillips won the individual gold on Toytown in the three-day eventing competition at the World Equestrian Games in 2006 in Aachen, Germany. She was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Her father, Mark Phillips, won a gold medal in the three-day event at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Her mother, Princess Anne, won the European title in 1971 and competed at the 1976 Montreal Olympics in the same event.
In 2005, Phillips won individual and team gold at the European Eventing Championships.
Last September, she helped Britain win its seventh consecutive team gold medal at the European Eventing Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy.
But she left in tears after Toytown stopped in the showjumping to keep her from consecutive individual golds.
Zara Phillips
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