If there is one word Hockeyroos’ co-captain Jane Claxton would use to describe her team it’s “resilience”.
Toughness, both mentally and physically, is the characteristic the South Australian triple Olympian believes will give her team an edge over their competitors at the Paris Games.
Speaking alongside Chef de Mission Anna Meares at the Olympic team’s first press conference, Claxton said the Hockeyroos were ready to bring their best in the pool matches which begin on 28 July against South Africa.
The players had their first training session at Yves-du-Manoir Stadium on Friday, with Claxton giving the pitch the thumbs up. The stadium is a legacy venue from the 1924 Paris Olympics.
“We've had our highs and lows, but we are a really resilient bunch,” she said.
“We back each other's performances and talents to perform on the big stage.
“I think that's shown leading into this Olympics and will show throughout. It's a difficult campaign going across the two weeks.
“The last three years we've been working on the mental high-performance side of our sport, hopefully that shows on the pitch.”
Despite being one of the country’s most successful Olympic teams, winning gold in 1988, 1996 and 2000, the women’s hockey team have not graced the podium since Sydney hosted the Games.
But after finishing fifth in Tokyo, and under the guidance of triple Olympian Katrina Powell, the medal rounds are firmly in the team’s sights.
Powell is the first woman since Colleen Quinn in 1978 to coach the national team. She is known for her high-performance mindset; something the team has focused on in the lead-up to the 2024 Games.
“It’s rare to have a two-time gold medallist as your coach,” Claxton said.
“Triny's been there and done that. She knows what it's like to be in our shoes and can provide that support mechanism but also challenge us when it's needed.
“It's special to have her on the pitch spurring us on, but also by our sides in the daily training environment, making sure we are best prepared.
“She's really brought a new dynamic to the team. She knows we're all talented hockey players, but to bring that on the field, you have to be in the right frame of mind.”
Catriona Dixon
