Five selected in Women’s Olympic Hockey Team

Five NSWIS athletes have been selected in the women’s 16-person hockey section of the 2016 Australian Olympic team.

Veteran Casey Sablowski has been selected for her third Olympic Games, whilst Emily Smith will now feature in her second. Joining the experienced duo will be Georgina Morgan, Grace Stewart and Mariah Williams, who will all make their debuts in Rio.

With only four returning Olympians in total, selectors are hoping the fresh talent of 12 debutants will be the key to securing Olympic gold in Rio. The side will largely rely on Olympic rookies to bring enthusiasm and excitement to the pitch as the team looks to claim top spot on the medal dais.

With over 350 international appearances, Australia’s most capped female hockey player, Madonna Blyth will lead the Team in her third Olympic campaign. The Rio Games will be the 30-year-old’s second experience at captaining the side and she feels she has a lot of more experience under her belt this time around.

Back in 2008, Casey Sablowski was the youngest player selected at the Beijing Olympic Games. In the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, 19-year-old Grace Stewart who will be Australia’s youngest hockey player at the Games.  

Seeing her name on the selection list was a surreal moment for Stewart.

“I was in shock and I had to double check it was my name and when it was, it was pretty amazing,” said Stewart, who is both nervous and excited to make her Olympic debut.

“We have a big three weeks of training ahead, and it will be pretty full on but it will be worth it knowing it will help us go better over there.”

For head coach Adam Commens picking the 2016 Olympic Team was the toughest the selection panel has seen in recent Olympic history. 

"In the end we have selected a fantastic group of players that are all in fantastic form,” Commens said.

“To win Olympic medals it’s important to have in form players that are also on the improve. We have this throughout our Olympic selection of 16 and I’m excited by our prospects in Rio."

Australia’s women head into the first South American Games as world number 3, and will compete in Pool B against Argentina (#2), Great Britain (6), USA (7), Japan (10) and India (13).

Competition starts on August 6 and will feature a new format. The top four from each of the two pools will progress to the all-or-nothing quarter-finals as each team pushes towards the gold medal match on August 18.

These 16 athletes take the overall 2016 Australian Olympic Team to 276 from 22 sports, with an expected final Team of around 410 athletes.