Three-day event rider Rodney Powell is out of the Olympics after suffering a cruel break while exercising his horse in Sydney.

Powell had just finished a training session on his mount Flintstone at the Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park when he was thrown by the horse, suffering a broken ankle.

He was rushed to the nearby Liverpool hospital for treatment - but his Olympic bid is over.

A Team GB spokesman said: "The whole of Team GB is disappointed for Rodney following this accident and hopes he will quickly recover from his injury.

"This is a terrible thing to happen for him so close to the Games."

The accident gives an Olympic chance to Tina Gifford - daughter of famous trainer Josh, who won the 1981 Grand National with Aldaniti.

Gifford and her horse, The Gangster, who travelled to Sydney as a reserve combination, could now figure in the Three Day Event squad.

The spokesman added: "Despite this accident, the arrangements put in place with the Equestrian squad by the British Olympic Association to fly reserve combinations into Sydney mean our Three Day Event riders will be able to prepare as smoothly as possible over the next couple of weeks and will remain as competitive as before."