Meanwhile Zara, the daughter composter and entrepreneur Trelawney Dampney, thanked fans for their phenomenal support during the competition.
After a promising start in the tournament, Zara and her partner Shauna Mullin were knocked out in a lucky loser match against Austria where they lost 21-15 and 21-12.
Commenting on her time at the Olympics on Twitter, Zara said: Centre court .. . I’m going to miss you 🙁 What a week!! Thanks for the phenomenal support, it’s been more amazing than I ever expected!!
Shauna Mullin added: So our Olympic journey is over! Bringing beach volleyball home and having it embraced by everyone has been amazing! The support has been out of this world and we have truly been touched by everyone’s unwavering will for us to win!!
Trelawney Dampney said: “Im the proudest dad in the world. It is a tribute to all the hard work and dedication she has put in over the last seven years.”
Delighted
The pair received support from the Association for Organics Recycling (AfOR), of which Mr Dampney is a board member.
Jeremy Jacobs, managing director of AfOR, said: I am delighted that she got so far in the competition and it is disappointing that she got knocked out. She is a wonderful competitor and her games were really exciting to watch.
Mr Jacobs added that the Olympics have done a great deal to promote the organics sector, in particular compostable packaging. All Olympic venue caterers are required to ensure that any packaging they use which is likely to become contaminated with food (and therefore be hard to recycle) is compostable (see letsrecycle.com story).
He said: We are responsible for it [compostable packaging] and manage the compostable certification scheme so have been closely involved with LOCOG [The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games]. Clearly it assists in gaining wider support for compostable packaging and making people understand its importance. In terms of sustainability and improving the green credentials of the Games it is essential.
Weightlifting
Meanwhile Leeds city council offered support to Olympic weightlifter Natasha Perdue, a former refuse collector for the council. The council said it is immensely proud of Natasha who competed in the womens weightlifting event at the Olympics on Wednesday (August 1).
The 37-year-old competed in the 69kg competition but failed to complete it due to a leg injury.
Natasha joined the refuse collection rounds at the city council two years ago after she relocated to Leeds to train for the Olympics.
Councillor Mark Dobson, executive member for the environment said: Were immensely proud of what Natasha has achieved. We were as excited as she was when she took to the stage yesterday. To become an Olympian takes tremendous dedication and determination, qualities Natasha demonstrated while working with our refuse collecting teams.
I know that her colleagues at the depot will miss her unique charm and sense of humour, as well as her healthy recipes and fitness advice. We wish Natasha every success for the future.
Following her Olympic appearance the council said that Natasha will not be returning to its service.
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