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Princess Annemade history in 1976 as the first British royal to compete in the Olympics.
It’s an ongoing conversation in which rulings vary from sport to sport, with New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard becoming thefirst openly transgender Olympic athlete.
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For her part, Princess Anne had been an accomplished equestrian since age 11. She competed in the European Championships twice, winning an individual gold in 1971 and a silver in the same event four years later, as well as a silver medal in team competition in 1975.
The next year, she joined Team GB in the three-day equestrian Eventing competition at the Montreal Olympics, riding onQueen Elizabeth’s horse Goodwill. Anne’s quest for the podium was disrupted when she suffered a concussion in the midst of a course, though she did recover and complete her run. Ultimately, Great Britain did not take home a medal in Anne’s chosen sport.
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Anne, 70, remains a member of the International Olympic Committee today and serves as president of the British Olympic Association.
Though she did not attend this year’s games in Tokyo, she released avideoon July 19 via the official Royal Family account wishing Great Britain’s Olympic athletes “every success.”
“I do remember from my own Olympic journey, the anticipation and excitement of stepping onto the Olympic stage,” she said. “I know that you have all worked incredibly hard for this moment, during the most challenging of times. This is your Olympics…. Savor it, and above all, enjoy it.”
source: people.com
