Rio 2016: Zara Phillips Fails To Secure A Place In Great Britain’s Eventing Team

Zara Phillips granddaughter could not secure a place in Great Britain’s eventing team for Rio 2016. The 35-year-old won her first Olympic silver medal at London 2012. She is the first member of the British royal family to win a medal in the Olympic Games.

The granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II has not been included in Team GB’s eventing list for the games this summer which was released Tuesday. Zara qualified in the Badminton Horse Trials held in Gloucestershire, England in May. The accomplished equestrian was cheered on by her two-year-old daughter Mia Tindall and her husband Mike, a former rugby player.

“Like anybody else, Zara really wanted to represent her country, but I’m sure she also wanted to make sure that the best team goes to Rio,” said a spokesperson of Zara, speaking to People. Earlier, after her Badminton Horse Trial qualifier, she told BBC that she wanted to go to the Olympics and was working towards it.

“It is a unique championship, and to be able to represent your country there is phenomenal,” said Zara in the same interview. Meanwhile Team GB has selected 10 athletes in their list, while the final selection will be done by July 18. Among the athletes selected, who competed along with Zara during London 2012 include Tina Cook, William Fox-Pitt and Nicola Wilson.

Zara could not participate in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics because of injuries to her horse. In London 2012, she won the silver medal riding her horse High Kingdom, and wanted to continue with her even this year. Unfortunately for Zara, it was reportedly concerns about her horse’s fitness that contributed to her exclusion.

The royal, who is the daughter of Princess Anne, is an accomplished rider just like her mom and her grandmother, the queen. She won the Eventing World Championships in 2006, and that same year was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.