Despite giving birth to Royal baby Mia in January, new mum Zara Phillips is already looking ahead to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games where she hopes to pick up an equestrian gold medal.
The Queen’s granddaughter, who is an established horse eventer and won silver at the London Games in 2012, spoke to BBC Breakfast this morning to say she has her eye firmly on the prize – and is even starting to think about introducing her daughter to her beloved horses.
‘I definitely want a gold,’ she explained. ‘It would be fantastic to go to another Olympics.’
Of taking up riding again after giving birth, Zara, 32, said she now feels a lot more comfortable in the saddle, but that it was a weird feeling at first because her muscles weren’t working well.
‘We went skiing at six weeks [post-partum], which you could think was crazy – the baby came too – and actually after that I was 50 per cent fitter than I would have been if I’d stayed home for the week.’
On adapting to motherhood, the minor Royal said she was really enjoying being a parent, along with husband Mike Tindall, the former England rugby player.
‘It’s different – it’s definitely different – and getting your body back is the hardest,’ she said.
‘Next week is the first week that Mia will have to get in the horse box. But I’m lucky – she’s been great, she’s been eating and drinking, so I’m very lucky.’
How did you find adapting to motherhood after giving birth to your first? Let us know in the comments below.