Olympics eventing: Zara Phillips praises team after silver medal

Zara Phillips paid tribute to her team-mates after becoming the first British royal to win an Olympic medal.

Phillips was part of the five-strong Great Britain eventing team that won silver behind Germany at London 2012 on Tuesday.

"It's disappointing we didn't get gold, but the team's been awesome," said the Queen's grand-daughter.

Phillips and her team-mates were presented with their medals by her mother, the Princess Royal.

"It's been a real honour to ride with everyone. We've had an amazing week," added Phillips.

"It's been great, an unreal competition, and when you get one of these [medals] put round your neck, it brings it back to you and you realise everything was worth it."

The last time a British eventing team won Olympic gold was in 1972 when her father Captain Mark Phillips, who also won silver in 1988 and is now coach of the United States, was part of the team.

The Princess Royal competed at the Olympics herself in 1976 but came 24th in the individual eventing, while the team came ninth.

"Of course it was amazing to receive the medal from my mum," said Phillips, who missed out on the 2004 and 2008 Olympics because of injuries to her horse at the time, Toytown.

Phillips, who was riding High Kingdom in London, knocked off a pole and collected three time penalties in the team showjumping.

But clear rounds from Mary King and Tina Cook secured silver for a Great Britain team that also included William Fox-Pitt and Nicola Wilson.

"We are all being carried along on this wave of craziness," said Fox-Pitt. "This is something we have never experienced in our careers and never will again. It's just not normal."

Cook, who came sixth in the individual event, said Britain had fought off some stiff competition to finish on the podium.

"It feels like a silver medal won," said said. "It was a very tough competition, when we came here, there were five nations that felt they had the capability of winning gold.

"We're like any athletes, we wanted the gold but we're very pleased to have a silver."

Phillips said the atmosphere created by the partisan crowd in the 23,000 capacity arena at Greenwich Park had lifted the British team.

"It's incredible, a massive lift when you come into the arena, massive support, and I'm really grateful to everyone who has come and cheered for us, all week it has been the same," she said.

"I definitely think it is a help, the pressure is what you put on yourself trying to get the best score for the team."