British Riders React to London Explosions
One day after the euphoria of seeing their home country being granted the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, the mood was somber amongst the riders from Great Britain who are competing at the North American Tournament.
Michael Whitaker, Nick Skelton and Mark Armstrong met with the press briefly this afternoon and expressed their shock about the horrific explosions in London, presumed to be the work of terrorists. But they weren’t surprised that it happened. “It was just a matter of when it was going to happen. That’s what the majority of people felt – it was just a matter of when,” said Armstrong, who lives 40 minutes outside London. He said no one he knows in London was hurt in the blasts. Skelton said, “I’m not surprised, really,” adding, “It’s tragic.”
“The first thing you realize is how lucky you are you weren’t there.”
Skelton and Whitaker both live several hours north of London, but they said they had been talking to their friends and family at home.
Asked about whether he might change any plans following today’s event, he said that he wouldn’t do anything different, and may be in London next week.