HOCKEY: Hockeyroo Jayde Taylor has announced her immediate retirement from international hockey. The 29 year-old informed Australian Head Coach Adam Commens and teammates earlier this week, calling time on a 107-cap international career that culminated in winning the Commonwealth Games final in Glasgow last August.
London Olympian Taylor - who shot to global attention after she and teammate Brooke Peris snapped a selfie with the Queen at the 2014 Commonwealth Games - retires as a two-time Commonwealth Games champion and World Cup silver medallist.
Since making her senior international debut in a 4-0 win over Great Britain in June 2010, Taylor has gone on to represent Australia at the Olympic Games, two World Cups, two Commonwealth Games, the 2011 Champions Trophy and the Oceania Cup.
Announcing her decision to retire, Taylor said, “I’ve been thinking long and hard over the past few months. There are several reasons I’ve chosen to call it a day. Many past players have said to me you ‘just know’ when it’s time. I believe it is the right decision and the right time, not only for me but with the best interests of the [Women’s High Performance] program at heart. I like to think I am a gracious person who really appreciates current and past experiences and very much dislikes letting people down. I feel that is what I would be doing if I kept going.”
Recalling some of her career highlights, the defender from Bunbury, WA, said, “The World Cup silver medal and the 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medal are two special highlights for me, but I will never forget being part of the Olympic Games simply because of the event it was.”
Thanking those that have played a part in her career, Taylor said, “I have had so many coaches along the way and each and every one of them has encouraged, guided, taught and inspired me in one way or another. I cannot thank them all enough! Adam [Commens], in particular, is someone whose honesty I truly value and I hope to take that with me into my future career path.
“Each and every one of my teammates, too, has provided inspiration, encouragement and advice along the way at different times. Enjoying success and a sense of achievement alongside your teammates is what keeps making you front up to the hard sessions time and time again.”
Hockeyroos Head Coach Adam Commens said, “Jayde has had a very successful career. She is somebody who worked hard over a number of years to work her way into the program and who has had the resilience to stay in it. She epitomises the mental strength and resilience we expect in the Hockeyroos.
“She has a smart hockey brain and has been able to impart her knowledge on her teammates in valuable ways, from the most experienced players to those just entering the program. Her experience, knowledge and coaching ability has been invaluable throughout. She has been able to play a role regardless of position, particularly during our successes at the World Cup and Commonwealth Games in 2014.”
After taking up hockey at the age of 13, Taylor progressed quickly, playing representative hockey at Under 18 and Under 21 age levels before going on to play for the Australian junior team, the Jillaroos, at the 2005 Junior World Cup. She was a member of the National Development Squad for five years before making the breakthrough to the National Senior Squad in 2010 at the age of 25.
A foot injury sustained following the London Olympic Games in 2012 ruled her out for 14 months during which she was unable to run for a full year. At the time she was told she might never run again. Of that time, Taylor said, “It was the drive and determination to be part of something that is so unique and so, so special that kept me going.”
In August 2014, Taylor shot to the attention of the world after posting a selfie with teammate Brooke Peris in which the Queen appeared to ‘photobomb’ the pair during a visit to the Commonwealth Games hockey venue. The photo went viral and has now racked up almost 15,000 retweets and more than 13,000 favourites on Twitter. On Facebook it attracted 26,000 likes and was shared 2500 times. It garnered media attention from outlets across the globe, graced the front page of The Times newspaper in the UK and was named as Buzzfeed’s third most important selfie of the year.
Speaking of that time, Taylor said, “It was a beautiful moment in our careers, shared with Brooke, which gained such a raw emotional reaction from the world, something not many people are able to say. It’s still circulating on social media and I’m proud Brooke and I could be part of something so special together, and also to promote the amazing brand that the Hockeyroos is. It certainly added to the experience of the Commonwealth Games but the greatest part was sharing the gold medal with the team a week later.”
Taylor is currently in the Netherlands playing club hockey for HC Bloemendaal and hopes to be able to remain in the sport in the future, in coaching or administration.
Hockey Australia congratulates Jayde on a successful career with the Hockeyroos and wishes her well for the future.
Hockey Australia Release
