Maddie Hinch 2.0 embraces defence of Olympic crown

Maddie Hinch loves stopping hockey balls. That much the world knows.

But what the world is learning is how the 32-year-old stopper got to grips with the spotlight and shed the pursuit of perfection that followed Olympic gold in Rio.

The result? Hinch says it's a better goalkeeper, athlete and person which is bad news for flickers everywhere.

"I'm far more experienced than I was in Rio, I've been through a lot now," said Hinch.

"Now I value the opportunity of being at the Games so much more. As a youngster, you're constantly ticking boxes and chasing something and you miss the importance of being at an Olympics.

"You never sit back and take it all in. Now, I've been through so much, and I'm just so looking forward to having this opportunity to do it again.

"I constantly remind myself that the reason I'm there is that I just love stopping hockey balls. If I can keep that in my head alone, it will be a great tournament, but that's easier said than done!"

Hinch was the hero between the sticks in the Rio shootout that crowned Team GB's women Olympic hockey champions for the first time.

The 32-year-old took time away from the international game in 2018, came back in 2019 and strides towards Tokyo in 2021 with a different perspective on success.

"When you taste it, you have to go out and find it again and you're chasing something that's almost impossible to grab," she said.

"I felt like I had to be a superhuman every time I stepped on the pitch and only perfect would work. I've never been perfect, I always let in bad goals leading into the Olympics.

"All that got forgotten because of the medal. They were the demons I was fighting, those highs and lows and it's been tough.

"A lot of players retired after Rio and then we found ourselves back to where we were when I started my career, down to fifth and sixth in the world after winning Olympic gold.

"It's tough, and it has been a tough cycle. I think these experiences are going to help at the end of the day for when that moment comes and I hope it's this summer."

Hinch's return to Bisham Abbey was one of the bright spots in a turbulent Olympic cycle for the reigning champions, featuring retirements, injuries and a coaching change in 2018.

Hinch is one of seven returning gold medallists, including captain Hollie Pearne-Webb, Giselle Ansley, Lily Owsley, Susannah Townsend and Laura Unsworth.

Those seven are tasked with shepherding the remaining nine, all Olympic debutants in the 16-strong squad, through a Games experience like no other.

"As a team, we want to be proud of what we deliver and if we can do that consistently, we'll come home with a medal and we'll be in the hunt," said Hinch.

"I just want us to be proud of what we put out there and didn't fear it and left no stone unturned. We don't want to come home and think we bottled it."

Sportsbeat 2021