Meet the Team GB Women’s Hockey finalists who prove they have the sporting ability and brains for Olympic success
IT’S tough to get to the top — and these girls are certainly that.
Team GB’s women’s hockey team take on Holland at 9pm tonight.
And the gold medal rampage is likely to keep the medics almost as busy as the players if the past is any guide.
Defender Crista Cullen got clobbered in the brutal semi-final win over New Zealand.
Midfielder Georgie Twigg was hit square in the face by the ball minutes later but after stitches both were ready to play again within minutes.
The 25-year-old is training to be a lawyer off the pitch.
In 2012, captain Kate Richardson-Walsh — a consultant auditor — had her jaw broken playing Japan.
After surgery to fix it with a metal plate, she led the team to the bronze medal.
Two years later defender Sam Quek led the England side through every game of the Champions Trophy in Argentina despite breaking two ribs in the first match.
We review some of the heroines we’ll cheer tonight.
Sarah Robertson
Graduate, 23
LAW student Sarah narrowly missed selection for the Olympics squad, but with 50 caps for Scotland plus eight more for GB she has a bright future.
Had a spell playing club hockey for KHC Leuven in Belgium.
Alex Danson
Youth Mentor, 31
FORWARD Alex was joint top-scorer at London 2012.
Initially turned away from England hockey trials due to low fitness.
Retrained and returned with a fitness rating higher than that needed for the Royal Marines.
Joie Leigh
Graduate, 23
MIDFIELDER Joie played tennis to national level before the buzz of turning out for a team persuaded her to opt for hockey at school.
Has a Geography degree so knew way to Rio when picked to be a reserve.
Lily Owsley
Student, 21
HOOKED on hockey after watching games during 2012 Olympics in London.
Currently studying Sports Science at Birmingham University and coaching hockey at several clubs.
She also had a meningitis scare last year.
Hollie Webb
Civil Servant, 25
MADE international debut just before finishing economics degree.
Works at Defra and combines her job with hockey training and planning her wedding to Tom Pearne, a former Royal Navy engineer.
Georgie Twigg
Trainee Lawyer, 25
MIDFIELDER “Twiggy” studied for her law degree while training for London 2012 and was the youngest member of the bronze-winning team.
A confessed shopaholic, she won’t go out without her trademark pearl earrings.
Kate Richardson-Walsh
Auditor, 36
THIS is captain Kate’s fourth Olympics.
The defender has played for her country over 360 times and was given an MBE for her heroics at London 2012.
She married teammate Helen Richardson-Walsh in 2013.
related stories
Maddie Hinch
Graduate, 27
GOALIE Maddie was the hero of England’s EuroHockey Championships gold medal triumph last year when she saved penalties against the Netherlands.
Her pre-match routine includes drinking a Red Bull.
Sam Quek
Graduate, 27
DEFENDER Sam learnt to deal with the physicality of the sport as a kid.
She said: “I’ve got a twin brother. I’d put coats on then he’d rugby tackle me.
"I learnt early, if you didn’t get out of the way, you got hurt!”
Sophie Bray
Business Consultant, 26
BORN in France, Sophie was a keen tennis player until 11 and played football for Fulham Ladies.
The forward started hockey in school and competed while studying psychology at Birmingham University.