Govers makes most of Rio disappointment, looks to the future

NSWIS hockey player Kieran Govers has pushed the disappointment of not being selected for the Rio Olympics to the back of his mind and now has a new focus, the local hockey title and a recall to the Kookaburras.

After overcoming a spate of hip and hamstring injuries and proving his fitness prior to Rio, the London Olympic bronze medallist was overlooked for the team, while brother Blake made the cut and was part of a trying campaign for the Kookaburras.

Intent on moving forward, Govers returned to the Illawarra Hockey tournament, where he hopes to help Albion Park to the local title. If he can do that, the celebrations will be short lived, as he is scheduled to jet off the day after the grand final to join Dutch club Den Bosch.

Amongst managing his injuries, playing with the ‘Park’ boys and preparing for his overseas commitments, Govers has made himself available for the national team, whose next assignment is November’s Four Nations campaign and test series against India.

While injury woes may still be on the road ahead, with surgeons suggesting a hip replacement may be on the agenda, Govers said he is holding out hope of another Olympic campaign in Tokyo, this time alongside brother Blake.

It’s a long way away,” Gover said to the Illawarra Mercury when speaking of Tokyo.

“But obviously there’s part of me that just wants to play on and have more success, especially playing with Blake.

“The surgeons are confident I can play on, even if I have this hip replacement, and if they want me to play later this year, I’ve told them I’m available.”

However before he gets there, the Illawarra competition beckons. While Albion Park may be a far cry from the Olympic Hockey Centre in the Deodoro precinct of Rio, there’s no doubt Govers will treat the local competition with the same intensity as he would an Olympic campaign.