The Australian women’s and men’s hockey teams are taking plenty of optimism from their Olympic campaigns, despite leaving Paris disappointed with their quarterfinal exits.
The Hockeyroos narrowly missed a shot playing for a medal, going down to China 2-3 in a controversial quarterfinal. It followed an electric campaign with the talent of the Hockeyroos eight Olympic debutants were on full display, as the team connected to show off a beautiful brand of hockey while going through pool play unbeaten.
As the curtain closed on the Hockeyroos Olympic Campaign, it also closed on co-captain and star midfielder Jane Claxton, who brought up 250 matches in her last international outing for Australia.
The Kookaburras’ devastating 0-2 loss to the Netherlands in the knockout stages wasn’t the result the Australian men’s team were looking for after an eight-year campaign that saw them enter the Games as one of the gold medal favourites.
Hunting their first gold medal in 20 years, the Tokyo silver medallists sought to build on the Kookaburras’ legacy in Paris, returning with largely the same team that competed in the gold medal match in Tokyo.
Heading into the Games FIH Pro League champions and with over 2806 caps between them, including five-time Olympian and Australian Flagbearer Eddie Ockenden, the group believed they were primed, fit and in goal-scoring form to achieve what they set out to complete.
It will still be a campaign to remember for Tim Brand, who brought up 100 caps for Australia, goalkeeper Andrew Charter who extended his run as Australia’s most-capped goalie ever with 250 caps and Eddie who celebrated a mammoth 450 internationals in green and gold.
