Great Britain Women selected to represent Team GB at London 2012 Olympic Games
On the day the Olympic Flame arrives in the UK, the British Olympic
Association (BOA) has announced the selection of the 100th athlete
to Team GB, with the announcement of the 16 athletes who will
represent Team GB in women’s hockey at the London 2012 Olympic
Games.
Since the 2008 Olympic Games, Team GB hockey athletes have won
medals at eight major World or European competitions. The run of
success includes England’s bronze medal victories in the World Cup,
European Championships, Commonwealth Games and Champions Trophy,
Scotland’s bronze medal at the Champions Challenge and European
Championships II and Great Britain’s recent silver medal at the
Champions Trophy.
The team will be looking to improve on their sixth place finish at
the last Olympics in Beijing and inspire the nation by challenging
for a medal in London this summer. They are currently ranked fourth
in the world, having enjoyed a consistent rise up the rankings from
11th over the past six years under the leadership of Head Coach
Danny Kerry.
Great Britain won the Olympic test event at the Riverbank Arena in
the Olympic Park earlier this month; beating world number two team
Argentina in the final, just three months after losing to the World
Champions 1-0 in the final of the Champions Trophy.
The squad, which includes players from Scotland, Wales and England,
was announced at the London Stock Exchange on Friday morning.
Captain Kate Walsh was responsible for officially opening market
trading.
The selected athletes are: (Name, born, hometown, age)
Ashleigh Ball (Brighton, Cheltenham, 26)
Laura Bartlett (Glasgow, 23)
Crista Cullen (Boston, London, 26)
Alex Danson (Southampton, Odiham, 26)
Hannah Macleod (Huntingdon, 27)
Emily Maguire (Paisley, 23)
Anne Panter (Wellingborough, 28)
Helen Richardson (Hitchin, West Bridgford, 30)
Chloe Rogers (Great Dunmow, 27)
Beth Storry (Reading, 32)
Sarah Thomas (Merthyr Tydfil, 31)
Georgie Twigg (Lincoln, 21)
Laura Unsworth (Sutton Coldfield, 24)
Kate Walsh (Stockport, 32)
Sally Walton (Solihull, 27)
Nicola White (Oldham, 24)
Two reserve athletes are:
Natalie Seymour (Maidstone, 24)
Abi Walker (Glasgow, 30)
The addition of the 16 women’s hockey players brings the total
number of athletes officially selected to Team GB for London 2012
to 101 across eight sport disciplines: archery, athletics –
marathon, boxing, canoe slalom, hockey, sailing, swimming and
synchronised swimming.
The athletes were formally nominated to the BOA for selection to
Team GB by Great Britain Hockey, the National Governing Body for
hockey in the UK.
Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt said:
“On this historic day for the British Olympic Movement, as the
Olympic Flame arrives in the UK, I am delighted to welcome the
women’s hockey squad as officially selected members of Team GB for
London 2012.
“The progress made by the women’s hockey team over the last six
years has been outstanding. They have consistently medalled at
major international Championships over the last two years and are
now ranked fourth in the world. With victory in the recent test
event on the Olympic Park, the team demonstrated their capability
to beat the best sides in the world and compete for the Olympic
medal podium this summer.
“Over 600,000 people will see first-hand the speed, skill and
excitement involved in the game of hockey as they attend matches at
the fantastic Riverbank Arena during the Games. With the passionate
and vocal support of the home crowd behind them, the Team GB
women’s hockey team will have a great opportunity to write
themselves into the history books and create a lasting legacy for
the sport across the UK with their inspirational
performances.”
Team GB Women’s Hockey Head Coach Danny Kerry said:
“Words cannot describe how difficult it has been to make the final
decision in selecting this squad. Since we centralised our training
programme in late 2009, our process has been continuous, making it
our most thorough and exhaustive ever.
“We have chosen what we feel is the best combination of players for
the challenges of the Olympic Games. Each and every one of the 28
athletes in the training group has committed so much and as a
result we have the most powerful squad spirit I have ever
known.
“I want to offer my congratulations to those that have been
selected who I know will do our squad proud in London. I also want
to offer my most heartfelt commiserations to those that have not
been selected – they have given everything.”
Great Britain Hockey Performance Director David Faulkner
said:
“Olympic selection is always something that every athlete will
remember. The moment confirmation comes that they will become an
Olympian lives with them forever.
“What is impressive about this women’s hockey group is the
collective manner in which they’ve approached the programme over
the last four years. This group is incredibly special – I know that
those not selected will give 100% support to those that have
been.”
Team GB Women’s Hockey Captain Kate Walsh said:
“I feel very honoured and privileged to have been selected to
represent our squad at the London Olympic Games. We have
progressed so far as a group over the last few years and I am
looking forward to giving it everything we’ve got in front of
jubilant home crowd.”
Alex Danson said:
“It’s a huge, unbelievable honour! As a child and as an athlete you
dream of going to an Olympic Games but to have the opportunity to
play at the Olympic Games in your own country is simply
incredible.
“I’m so excited to be able to share the experience with my family
and friends. They have been my support network throughout and to
have them around me will be a tremendous help.
“Our programme has provided us with the best preparation we’ve ever
had. Being able to train full time at Bisham Abbey has helped us
engender the fantastic team ethos and squad mentality that makes it
so great to be part of this team.”
Helen Richardson said:
“I feel extremely privileged to have been selected to represent
Team GB for a third Olympic Games. There’s no better feeling than
playing for Great Britain, and having the chance to compete in
front of a home crowd will be truly inspiring.
“The squad selected represents a wider training group and we’ll do
absolutely everything in our power to make them proud.”
Laura Bartlett said:
“I am absolutely delighted to be selected to represent my country
and I cannot wait to play in front of the passionate British
crowds. To be named in the squad for London is the ultimate prize
for the past four years of hard work.
“I am particularly looking forward to playing in front of a packed
house at the Riverbank Arena and hopefully we can build on our
successes at recent tournaments, including the Visa International
Invitational hockey test event.”
On the day the Olympic Flame arrives in the UK, the
British Olympic Association (BOA) has announced the selection of
the 100th athlete to Team GB, with the announcement of the 16
athletes who will represent Team GB in women’s hockey at the London
2012 Olympic Games.
Scotland’s Emily Maguire and Laura Barlett have been selected in
the squad of sixteen with goalkeeper Abi Walker named in the two
travelling reserves. Unfortunately, Vikki Bunce misses out on final
selection.
Laura Bartlett said:
“I am absolutely delighted to be selected to represent my
country and I cannot wait to play in front of the passionate
British crowds. To be named in the squad for London is the ultimate
prize for the past four years of hard work.
“I am particularly looking forward to playing in front of a
packed house at the Riverbank Arena and hopefully we can build on
our successes at recent tournaments, including the Visa
International Invitational hockey test event.”
Since the 2008 Olympic Games, Team GB hockey athletes have won
medals at eight major World or European competitions. The run of
success includes England’s bronze medal victories in the World Cup,
European Championships, Commonwealth Games and Champions Trophy,
Scotland’s bronze medal at the Champions Challenge and European
Championships II and Great Britain’s recent silver medal at the
Champions Trophy.
The team will be looking to improve on their sixth place finish
at the last Olympics in Beijing and inspire the nation by
challenging for a medal in London this summer. They are currently
ranked fourth in the world, having enjoyed a consistent rise up the
rankings from 11th over the past six years under the leadership of
Head Coach Danny Kerry.
Great Britain won the Olympic test event at the Riverbank Arena
in the Olympic Park earlier this month; beating world number two
team Argentina in the final, just three months after losing to the
World Champions 1-0 in the final of the Champions Trophy.
The squad, which includes players from Scotland, Wales and
England, was announced at the London Stock Exchange on Friday
morning. Captain Kate Walsh was responsible for officially opening
market trading.
The selected athletes are: (Name, born, hometown, age)
Ashleigh Ball (Brighton, Cheltenham, 26)
Laura Bartlett (Glasgow, 23)
Crista Cullen (Boston, London, 26)
Alex Danson (Southampton, Odiham, 26)
Hannah Macleod (Huntingdon, 27)
Emily Maguire (Paisley, 23)
Anne Panter (Wellingborough, 28)
Helen Richardson (Hitchin, West Bridgford,
30)
Chloe Rogers (Great Dunmow, 27)
Beth Storry (Reading, 32)
Sarah Thomas (Merthyr Tydfil, 31)
Georgie Twigg (Lincoln, 21)
Laura Unsworth (Sutton Coldfield, 24)
Kate Walsh (Stockport, 32)
Sally Walton (Solihull, 27)
Nicola White (Oldham, 24)
Two reserve athletes are:
Natalie Seymour (Maidstone, 24)
Abi Walker (Glasgow, 30)
The addition of the 16 women’s hockey players brings the total
number of athletes officially selected to Team GB for London 2012
to 101 across eight sport disciplines: archery, athletics –
marathon, boxing, canoe slalom, hockey, sailing, swimming and
synchronised swimming.
The athletes were formally nominated to the BOA for selection to
Team GB by Great Britain Hockey, the National Governing Body for
hockey in the UK.
Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt said:
“On this historic day for the British Olympic Movement, as the
Olympic Flame arrives in the UK, I am delighted to welcome the
women’s hockey squad as officially selected members of Team GB for
London 2012.
“The progress made by the women’s hockey team over the last six
years has been outstanding. They have consistently medalled at
major international Championships over the last two years and are
now ranked fourth in the world. With victory in the recent test
event on the Olympic Park, the team demonstrated their capability
to beat the best sides in the world and compete for the Olympic
medal podium this summer.
“Over 600,000 people will see first-hand the speed, skill and
excitement involved in the game of hockey as they attend matches at
the fantastic Riverbank Arena during the Games. With the passionate
and vocal support of the home crowd behind them, the Team GB
women’s hockey team will have a great opportunity to write
themselves into the history books and create a lasting legacy for
the sport across the UK with their inspirational performances.”
Team GB Women’s Hockey Head Coach Danny Kerry said:
“Words cannot describe how difficult it has been to make the
final decision in selecting this squad. Since we centralised our
training programme in late 2009, our process has been continuous,
making it our most thorough and exhaustive ever.
“We have chosen what we feel is the best combination of players
for the challenges of the Olympic Games. Each and every one of the
28 athletes in the training group has committed so much and as a
result we have the most powerful squad spirit I have ever
known.
“I want to offer my congratulations to those that have been
selected who I know will do our squad proud in London. I also want
to offer my most heartfelt commiserations to those that have not
been selected – they have given everything.”
Great Britain Hockey Performance Director David Faulkner
said:
“Olympic selection is always something that every athlete will
remember. The moment confirmation comes that they will become an
Olympian lives with them forever.
“What is impressive about this women’s hockey group is the
collective manner in which they’ve approached the programme over
the last four years. This group is incredibly special – I know that
those not selected will give 100% support to those that have
been.”
Team GB Women’s Hockey Captain Kate Walsh said:
“I feel very honoured and privileged to have been selected to
represent our squad at the London Olympic Games. We have
progressed so far as a group over the last few years and I am
looking forward to giving it everything we’ve got in front of
jubilant home crowd.”
(PHOTO CREDITS, Ady Kerry, www.adykerry.photoshelter.com)
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