Team GB now officially have more than 200 athletes heading to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after 32 hockey players booked their tickets to Brazil. Eight of the women’s team who won bronze at London 2012 return with Hannah MacLeod, Georgie Twigg, Laura Unsworth and Nicola White all included while Helen and Kate Richardson-Walsh are set for their fourth Games appearances and Alex Danson and Crista Cullen will make their third. The rest of the 16-strong squad are set for their first Olympic experience, however all have plenty of pedigree after helping England claim European Championship gold in London last year.
For the men, Barry Middleton will make his fourth Olympic Games appearance while Ashley Jackson returns for his third Games after appearing at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
Nick Catlin, Dan Fox, Iain Lewers and Harry Martin also return from the squad who finished fourth in London with ten players set for their Olympic Games debuts.
The selected athletes are:
Women’s Squad
Giselle Ansley, 24, hometown Kingsbridge Sophie Bray, 26, Claygate, Surrey Crista Cullen, 30, London Alex Danson, 31, Odiham Maddie Hinch, 27, West Chiltington Hannah Macleod, 32, Boston Shona McCallin, 24, Newark Lily Owsley, 21, Bristol Sam Quek, 27, Wirral Helen Richardson-Walsh, 34, West Bridgford Kate Richardson-Walsh, 36, Stockport Susannah Townsend, 26, Egerton Georgie Twigg, 25, Lincoln Laura Unsworth, 28, Sutton Coldfield Hollie Webb, 25, Belper Nicola White, 28, Oldham
Reserves:
Joanna Leigh, 23, Huddersfield Eleanor Watton, 27, Chesterfield Kirsty Mackay, 29, Blackpool
Men’s Squad
David Ames, 27, Cookstown Alastair Brogdon, 28, Hale Nicholas Catlin, 27, Marlow David Condon, 24, Leicester Adam Dixon, 29, Nottingham Daniel Fox, 33, Godalming Mark Gleghorne, 31, Antrim, Michael Hoare, 30, Liverpool Ashley Jackson, 28, Tunbridge Wells Iain Lewers, 32, Belfast Harry Martin, 23, Ipswich Barry Middleton, 32, Doncaster George Pinner, 29, Ipswich Ian Sloan, 22, Cookstown Samuel Ward, 25, Leicester William Weir, 26, Nantwich
Reserves:
Simon Mantell, 32, Street Dan Shingles, 30, London James Bailey, 25, Epping