The Wollongong hockey community will rise to its feet this August when home-grown talent Flynn Ogilvie takes his place in the Australian side to compete at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

Ogilvie has proven himself as a star of the future scoring three goals for the NSW side in Canberra last month during the national selection trials.

A hard-hitting attacker, Ogilvie stood out from the competition and was an obvious choice for the Australian squad to challenge for bragging rights as the world’s best youth side.

The Woonoona High student, who is also a member of the Australian schoolboys team, said he was looking forward to the challenge of facing international opposition and the chance to wear the hallowed green and gold.

“I’m looking forward to playing against some international teams [at the Youth Olympics] the most … I’ve played state hockey a bit but not against any international sides so that’s something I’m looking forward to,’’ Ogilvie said.

“We’ve been told that Argentina will be really good so I’m looking forward to that game and seeing how they play.”

To say the Ogilvie family are hockey fans is an understatement. With six kids who are all pretty handy with stick-in-hand, young Flynn was bought up with the feel of astro-turf under foot and rubber grip in his palm.

The younger brother of one of Australia’s most promising female prospects Airlie Ogilvie and Australian indoor representatives Lyndal and Kurt, Flynn has worked hard over the last three years to create his own profile in one of Australia’s most popular winter sports.

The reality of not just one, but four Australian representatives to come from a single family is quite remarkable.

In an age when sports like hockey are played by thousands of promising juniors Australia wide, to have a quartet running in national colours from the same blood line will go down in the hockey-history books as one to remember.

With such supportive and experienced foundations, its little wonder Ogilvie has centred his attention on hockey. He said despite growing up on the coast his talents were never as strong in the water as they were on the field.

“I’m not a surfer, I’ve had a go at it but it didn’t really turn out too good,” he said.

“I followed my brother to [hockey] training when I was about four and I’ve been playing ever since.”

Having only played with a handful of the Australian squad previously, Ogilvie said the challenge of forming new combinations was something he was going to enjoy.

“I’ve played with the NSW guys a bit and a couple of the other guys in Perth [at the national indoor championships] but most of us haven’t spent much time together,” he said.

“The Queensland boys have played a similar style to the way we are going to play in Singapore, with the same formations, so I think that will help.”

Ogilvie said while his school mates were proud of his achievements, the real thing on their minds was getting in on his extensive kit collection.

“Yeah, I have plenty of kit,” Ogilvie said with a laugh.

“[My friends] haven’t said too much about it all [international selection] but I’ve got one mate who has been asking me for a new pair of shoes for a while.

“My friends are pretty excited to hear that I’m going to an Olympics, and have mainly been asking questions about what is involved and when it is, generally just curious about the whole experience.

“Friends see it as a good achievement and are excited to have a friend who is going to an Olympics.”

The journey to Singapore will cap off an incredible year for Ogilvie. Along with the selection in the Australian schoolboys team, which includes a trip to China, the experience of the youth Olympics will go a long way towards making his senior year at high school both memorable and challenging.

The Australian Youth Olympic Team will leave for Singapore on 12 August 2010.

Elliott Woods
AOC