Zara Tindall was left positively surprised by Andy Murray’s comment about a team-mate when the two former Team GB stars crossed paths at the London 2012 Olympics. Tindall, nee Phillips, is the eldest niece of King Charles III and was sixth in line to the throne at the time of her birth. Despite being the daughter of Princess Anne, the royal made a name for herself as an athlete representing Great Britain at the London 2012 Games, where she won a silver medal as part of the team eventing equestrian squad. The medal was handed to her by her own mother, as Princess Anne was also the President of the British Olympic Association.
Memories of the Olympic Village
Another memorable aspect of the Games for Zara was the time she spent in the Olympic Village alongside her fellow athletes, including British tennis legend Murray. The Scot, who claimed a gold medal in London himself before going on to secure another gold in Rio, left a lasting impression on her when they met.
During an appearance on the Talk Horse podcast with presenters Pippa Funnell and Tristan Phipps, Zara was asked about how the World Championships compared to the Olympic Games. Her response highlighted the key distinctions between the two competitions, before she recalled a memorable moment involving Murray and her team-mate and fellow medallist, William Fox-Pitt - one of the greatest event riders in British sporting history.
Murray's comment that stunned Zara
The 45-year-old said: "It's just different numbers. It was incredible. I think, you know, to be on home turf as well was just amazing and also for us we were really, like, in the mix."
She went on to add: "So yeah and we were all in the [Olympic] Village, you know, living Village life. And Andy Murray was talking to William and saying how he loved William and I was like, 'My God.'"
Murray recalled the meeting himself at the time. When asked about other sportspeople he had met in the Village, he said: "I met William Fox-Pitt [the show jumper]. That was something my girlfriend was very excited about. She likes horses."
Zara's first Olympics experience
Zara, who missed out on Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 due to injuries to her horse, also said of her first Olympics experience: "It was just such an incredible experience and I always say when people ask me, one of the most amazing parts is going into the dining hall."
"To have so many different nations, religions, from all over, from wherever, sat in that dining hall, eating, preparing to win their gold medals or compete at the highest level."
