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Cook: Olympic dream come true
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Great Britain eventer Tina Cook is delighted she has got a second chance at Olympic glory after coming so close but missing out on any action in Sydney.
Cook travelled with the GB team to Australia in 2000 but only as a reserve and as all of her team-mates and their horses escaped any mishaps she stayed on the sidelines.
Now having made the team after both Lucy Wiegersma and Zara Phillip were forced out, Cook will be cherishing every second of the three-day event in Hong Kong, which is staging the equestrian events for the Olympics.
"I was out there for six weeks desperate to compete, but I knew the only way I was going to do so was for one of my team-mates' horses to go lame or for an accident to happen, which I wouldn't have wanted," Cook said of her previous Olympic experience in 2000.
"I came home feeling frustrated to have experienced everything but not to have actually competed."
Dream
Cook has spent a couple of years out of the sport and never thought she would have another chance to take part in the Olympics, so making it this year is a dream come true.
"My way of getting over it was to accept that it possibly wouldn't happen again in my lifetime," Cook added.
"I've had two children since then, so I've had a few years out of teams.
"It's so rare in your lifetime that you've got horses good enough to compete at Olympic level, so I thought I probably wouldn't have another chance.
"I've ridden at Worlds and Europeans, but now I've got a second chance to compete here and it's great to have that opportunity."
Cook's horse is Miners Frolic, who she thought had potential for London in 2012 but surprised even herself in making it to Beijing.
"When I came across this horse I felt he was a possible for 2012. He has put up some good performances. He went so well last year that suddenly Hong Kong came into the equation.
"We're a very strong team and experienced team and we have very high expectations. As long as everything goes well, we're expecting to bring home medals.
"We're here now and we're looking forward to the competition starting."
