Women's Olympic Hockey Team

1:22:58 > 1:23:01Welcome to the beautiful Bisham Abbey. Wandering round the grounds,

1:23:01 > 1:23:05you bump into top-class tennis players, footballers, netballers, Paralympians.

1:23:05 > 1:23:08But it's also the base of GB hockey,

1:23:08 > 1:23:09and that's why I'm here.

1:23:09 > 1:23:11Because, as we build up to Rio 2016, in this series

1:23:11 > 1:23:14we're going to be checking in on some of our best medal hopefuls.

1:23:14 > 1:23:17And I've come here to meet members of the squad

1:23:17 > 1:23:19who took the bronze medal at London 2012.

1:23:21 > 1:23:26Team GB won their first women's Olympic hockey medal in 20 years

1:23:26 > 1:23:28at London 2012,

1:23:28 > 1:23:30when they claimed bronze by beating New Zealand.

1:23:30 > 1:23:33Then, in 2015, the England players,

1:23:33 > 1:23:36who make up the spine of the British team,

1:23:36 > 1:23:39claimed their first European hockey title in 24 years

1:23:39 > 1:23:42by beating world and Olympic champions Holland

1:23:42 > 1:23:45in a dramatic penalty shootout,

1:23:45 > 1:23:49sparking hopes of repeating their medal success in Rio.

1:23:51 > 1:23:55I want to find out about the team's self-belief.

1:23:55 > 1:23:58We believe that we are one of the top teams in the world,

1:23:58 > 1:24:01we believe that we can beat anybody on our day.

1:24:01 > 1:24:05How Captain Kate Richardson-Walsh overcame a broken jaw...

1:24:05 > 1:24:08I still remember Kate turning up in the dining hall

1:24:08 > 1:24:12and she had these two bowls of this brown mixture.

1:24:12 > 1:24:16And she was so excited, and she had blended a roast dinner.

1:24:16 > 1:24:20Honestly, you were so excited. And I was like, "Great, Kate."

1:24:20 > 1:24:24And, of course, can they go all the way and win gold in Rio?

1:24:24 > 1:24:26I think we've got every chance of winning a gold medal,

1:24:26 > 1:24:28I think we've shown that now

1:24:28 > 1:24:30as we've just really progressed as a side.

1:24:33 > 1:24:37Of all the sports that you could have played, why hockey?

1:24:37 > 1:24:41I got into hockey not particularly out of choice, I was playing...

1:24:41 > 1:24:44I joined the school quite late, I was playing rounders

1:24:44 > 1:24:46and apparently I was very dramatic,

1:24:46 > 1:24:48diving for balls that were just coming straight at me.

1:24:48 > 1:24:50So I remember the rounders coach saying,

1:24:50 > 1:24:52"Right, we've got to get you in goal next season."

1:24:52 > 1:24:55And I actually hadn't heard of hockey or played it,

1:24:55 > 1:24:57I'd just come over from Belgium with my family.

1:24:57 > 1:25:01And being the new kid, obviously the goalkeeping position was available.

1:25:01 > 1:25:03So, shoved in, pads on and off I went,

1:25:03 > 1:25:06and I've learned to really love it, to be honest.

1:25:06 > 1:25:10- Georgie, what about you?- Team sports were definitely my favourite.

1:25:10 > 1:25:13And I'm known for being very competitive,

1:25:13 > 1:25:16and I think hockey kind of is where I probably excelled in that regard.

1:25:16 > 1:25:20- And I just loved the kind of skill, speed element of it.- And Kate?

1:25:20 > 1:25:23Yeah, very similar. I started off doing gymnastics and swimming.

1:25:23 > 1:25:25And then I went to secondary school

1:25:25 > 1:25:27and hockey was just one of the sports,

1:25:27 > 1:25:29like you say, rounders, netball, athletics.

1:25:29 > 1:25:32And probably picked hockey up better than the rest, to be honest.

1:25:32 > 1:25:34And you've now been playing hockey for how long?

1:25:34 > 1:25:38Oh, God, don't go there, shows how old I am. A long time ago.

1:25:38 > 1:25:41I'm 36 now, I started when I was about 11, 12. So, yeah, a long time.

1:25:41 > 1:25:45Are there injuries specific to hockey that you...

1:25:45 > 1:25:49or parts of your body that take more strain

1:25:49 > 1:25:50because of the bending down?

1:25:50 > 1:25:53Yeah, we're all going to be hunchback nanas.

1:25:53 > 1:25:56Although our physios and strength and conditioning coaches

1:25:56 > 1:25:58try and open us up, we're constantly in that position,

1:25:58 > 1:26:01so we're going to be like nanas with trolleys when we're older.

1:26:01 > 1:26:04But, yeah, backs take a lot of strain, our core.

1:26:04 > 1:26:07Kind of hips, glutes, they need to be really strong

1:26:07 > 1:26:10because they are really making sure that we're stable

1:26:10 > 1:26:12when we're in these ridiculous positions,

1:26:12 > 1:26:13slapping the ball, hitting the ball.

1:26:13 > 1:26:16But we get quite a lot of knee injuries, ankle injuries.

1:26:16 > 1:26:19I mean, we've got a bit of everything, really, haven't we?

1:26:19 > 1:26:21And you've got to be incredibly brave.

1:26:21 > 1:26:25I mean, Georgie, you're out there with no protection, really,

1:26:25 > 1:26:28and your job is to run at someone who's shooting at goal.

1:26:28 > 1:26:30- Some of the time, that's your job. - Do you do that?

1:26:30 > 1:26:33- THEY LAUGH - Treat me like a...

1:26:33 > 1:26:35"Oh, I'll break a nail!"

1:26:35 > 1:26:37That is not true!

1:26:38 > 1:26:41Erm, I guess we do hockey so much

1:26:41 > 1:26:44that it kind of becomes not scary.

1:26:44 > 1:26:48But, yeah, there can be times where you might be caught in no-man's-land

1:26:48 > 1:26:51and you're sort of five metres away from someone shooting at goal

1:26:51 > 1:26:54and it's that kind of, "Oh, I'm going to get hit here,

1:26:54 > 1:26:57"so I'm going to have to shut your eyes and run towards them",

1:26:57 > 1:27:00rather than sort of looking like a wuss and running out of the way.

1:27:00 > 1:27:03Maddie can take the shots, she's in goal with lots of protection.

1:27:03 > 1:27:06That's true. You are padded up to the nines.

1:27:06 > 1:27:07Everyone thinks we're the nutty ones,

1:27:07 > 1:27:09but actually we're the safest on the pitch, I reckon.

1:27:09 > 1:27:12These guys are out there to kind of make me look good, I reckon,

1:27:12 > 1:27:14and not make us do anything.

1:27:14 > 1:27:16And the better job they do, normally I just stand there.

1:27:16 > 1:27:20Have you ever actually played out in the field?

1:27:20 > 1:27:22We did a shoot the other day and I got put in a skirt

1:27:22 > 1:27:27and this lot were ripping me for looking really weird.

1:27:28 > 1:27:31You've got far too skinny legs for outfield hockey.

1:27:31 > 1:27:33Very white, skinny legs.

1:27:33 > 1:27:36Just pretending... And they were like, "Just go do what you do."

1:27:36 > 1:27:37And I was like, "What do I do?"

1:27:37 > 1:27:39and I got the stick and I'm just running round.

1:27:39 > 1:27:44But on the bravery scale, you've got a very high standard to live up to,

1:27:44 > 1:27:46because of you, Kate Richardson-Walsh.

1:27:46 > 1:27:48Because very few people

1:27:48 > 1:27:51carry the injury that you carried in London 2012

1:27:51 > 1:27:55and just want to get back to play as quickly as you can.

1:27:55 > 1:27:59- Just explain what happened. - Well, it was a bit stupid, really.

1:27:59 > 1:28:02I went in for a tackle that I probably wished I hadn't,

1:28:02 > 1:28:06but the Japanese girl was crossing the ball from the right-hand side

1:28:06 > 1:28:09and I went in to tackle on my backhand, and unfortunately,

1:28:09 > 1:28:11and unusually for me, I got a little bit of the ball,

1:28:11 > 1:28:14which meant, then, she didn't get the ball

1:28:14 > 1:28:16and she just caught me completely by accident.

1:28:16 > 1:28:18She must have caught me on a sweet spot, right in the jaw,

1:28:18 > 1:28:21and straightaway I knew I'd done something really bad,

1:28:21 > 1:28:23because I could just feel all this kind of row of teeth

1:28:23 > 1:28:24up in the middle of my mouth.

1:28:24 > 1:28:27But it's crazy what adrenaline does,

1:28:27 > 1:28:29and the spirit of the moment.

1:28:29 > 1:28:31And there was no doubt in my mind, once the surgeon said,

1:28:31 > 1:28:33"There's a chance you can play,"

1:28:33 > 1:28:35I was like, "OK, right, we're going for it."

1:28:35 > 1:28:37Because you didn't really remember much -

1:28:37 > 1:28:39you probably had a bit of concussion as well.

1:28:39 > 1:28:43You've got a fractured jaw, you've come round from surgery,

1:28:43 > 1:28:46or come round from anaesthetic, and what do you say?

1:28:46 > 1:28:49So I just said, you know, "Am I going to be able to play?"

1:28:49 > 1:28:52and the surgeon was... He was all for it.

1:28:52 > 1:28:53Dr Simon Holmes was like,

1:28:53 > 1:28:56"Yeah, this is like a baseball-bat-to-the-face job,

1:28:56 > 1:28:58"I see these every week, east London.

1:28:58 > 1:28:59"Yeah, you're going to be fine."

1:28:59 > 1:29:03So from that moment on, it was just a case of trying to get stronger,

1:29:03 > 1:29:05put the weight back on that I'd lost,

1:29:05 > 1:29:09because I'd already lost 2kg from the match, which is kind of normal.

1:29:09 > 1:29:10And then I'd lost,

1:29:10 > 1:29:12because I'd not been able to eat after the match,

1:29:12 > 1:29:15so just trying to shove custard and yoghurt and God knows what down me.

1:29:15 > 1:29:18- Because you couldn't chew anything. - No, I couldn't...

1:29:18 > 1:29:21I couldn't have any solid food for about ten weeks.

1:29:21 > 1:29:23Best diet ever.

1:29:23 > 1:29:26I still remember Kate turning up in the dining hall

1:29:26 > 1:29:29and she had these two bowls of this brown mixture.

1:29:29 > 1:29:31And she was so excited.

1:29:31 > 1:29:33And she had blended a roast dinner.

1:29:33 > 1:29:37Honestly, and you were so excited. And I was like, "Great, Kate."

1:29:37 > 1:29:39I tried to be really enthusiastic.

1:29:39 > 1:29:41That sounds really nice.

1:29:41 > 1:29:43- Put more gravy on it, why don't you?- Actually amazing.

1:29:43 > 1:29:46- You could taste all the elements of a roast dinner.- Good.

1:29:46 > 1:29:48- Highly recommend it.- I'll try that.

1:29:48 > 1:29:52We're used to everybody's mothers being quite protective of us

1:29:52 > 1:29:53and not wanting us to get harmed

1:29:53 > 1:29:56and, you know, jumping in if somebody criticises us, or whatever -

1:29:56 > 1:29:59what was your mum's response when you got injured?

1:29:59 > 1:30:01She just wanted to come to the hospit...

1:30:01 > 1:30:04She just wanted to get to the hospital and see if I was OK.

1:30:04 > 1:30:08My dad went home. My dad was just like the most chilled person ever,

1:30:08 > 1:30:09he's like, "There's nothing we can do,

1:30:09 > 1:30:12"so I'm going to go home and wait to hear what the news is tomorrow."

1:30:12 > 1:30:14But you see, I heard that your mum said,

1:30:14 > 1:30:16"Oh, it's all right, at least we're 4-0 up.

1:30:16 > 1:30:18That does sound like my mum.

1:30:18 > 1:30:20Yeah, that's the kind of thing my mum would say.

1:30:20 > 1:30:23That's where I've got this competitive spirit from -

1:30:23 > 1:30:24that's my mum, sure.

1:30:24 > 1:30:27For you guys out there, what actually are you wearing?

1:30:27 > 1:30:30- You've got a gumshield. - Yeah, gumshield is really important.

1:30:30 > 1:30:33I mean, that's saved a lot of teeth over the years.

1:30:33 > 1:30:36- Have you got anything protecting your...- Abs.- Yeah.

1:30:36 > 1:30:38- Obviously.- Abs are protecting you.

1:30:38 > 1:30:42That's it. But no protective gear on your upper body.

1:30:42 > 1:30:44And what have you got on your lower legs?

1:30:44 > 1:30:46Quite a few of us wear shin pads,

1:30:46 > 1:30:49which cover just under your knee to just above your ankle.

1:30:49 > 1:30:52There's always the tiny gap around your ankle bone.

1:30:52 > 1:30:55- That you always get hit on. - Always get hit on that gap.

1:30:55 > 1:30:57But that's it. That's all the protection that we wear.

1:30:57 > 1:31:01Maddie, with your kit, how long does it take you to get ready?

1:31:01 > 1:31:04Um, about ten minutes...normally.

1:31:04 > 1:31:08If I go over ten minutes, they start shouting at us to get quicker.

1:31:08 > 1:31:10As a goalie group, we like to gossip when we're going back,

1:31:10 > 1:31:13and this lot are always like, "Where are they?! Get them out!"

1:31:13 > 1:31:14So, ten minutes I can do it in,

1:31:14 > 1:31:16probably just under if I was rushing.

1:31:16 > 1:31:17And do you know what it weighs?

1:31:17 > 1:31:22It's roughly around 15 kilos of extra,

1:31:22 > 1:31:25so it's quite heavy in total, yeah.

1:31:25 > 1:31:26Especially when it gets wet.

1:31:26 > 1:31:27And when it gets wet -

1:31:27 > 1:31:29and obviously you're exercising in it as well

1:31:29 > 1:31:31and you're probably a bit hot -

1:31:31 > 1:31:35I've heard that it's really smelly, goalkeeper's kit.

1:31:35 > 1:31:36Right, Twiggy, you can back me up.

1:31:36 > 1:31:40Because... Because I share with Twiggy on trips,

1:31:40 > 1:31:44and I would classify myself as one of the cleanest goalies out there.

1:31:44 > 1:31:47Because if you don't wash it, then it will smell.

1:31:47 > 1:31:49And it does smell at times, but I wash it.

1:31:49 > 1:31:52- And then it doesn't smell so bad. - You hand-wash it?- No, I wax.

1:31:52 > 1:31:56So all the soft stuff, you can get in a washing machine. Two cycles.

1:31:56 > 1:31:58Shorts, body armour. And then all the foam, that doesn't smell,

1:31:58 > 1:32:00you can just put it in the bath.

1:32:00 > 1:32:02And then, yeah... And then you're good to go.

1:32:02 > 1:32:03And then do you spray it with something?

1:32:03 > 1:32:06Yeah. Normally after sessions, I get some Febreze on it.

1:32:06 > 1:32:08Obviously when we're away at trips,

1:32:08 > 1:32:11I don't have the access to get it in a washing machine,

1:32:11 > 1:32:14so I just Febreze it and, yeah, I think I'm all right, aren't I?

1:32:14 > 1:32:17Yeah, I would definitely second that

1:32:17 > 1:32:19- she's not a smelly goalie, definitely.- No.

1:32:19 > 1:32:21The corridor in our hotel when we go away on tournaments,

1:32:21 > 1:32:24everyone puts their Astros, their shin pads and their gloves,

1:32:24 > 1:32:27and you do feel sorry if there are any other guests in the hotel

1:32:27 > 1:32:29because it absolutely stinks. It's not nice.

1:32:29 > 1:32:32- No, it's just build up of years of sweat.- Good.

1:32:32 > 1:32:35I'm so glad we've discussed all this, yeah.

1:32:35 > 1:32:36We're really girlie.

1:32:37 > 1:32:39It's interesting that...

1:32:39 > 1:32:40There's a lot of research that says

1:32:40 > 1:32:42that young girls don't want to get into sport

1:32:42 > 1:32:45because they think it's going to mess up the way they look,

1:32:45 > 1:32:46and there is a balance there.

1:32:46 > 1:32:50There isn't a lot of room for vanity on the pitch,

1:32:50 > 1:32:52but do you worry at all about looks?

1:32:52 > 1:32:54And particularly with televised matches,

1:32:54 > 1:32:55do you make any extra effort?

1:32:55 > 1:32:57I'm going to ask you this, Georgie.

1:32:57 > 1:33:00- Why me?- It's only if you wake up like that.

1:33:00 > 1:33:02THEY LAUGH

1:33:02 > 1:33:04I've always, you know, worn make-up for matches,

1:33:04 > 1:33:08always wear my pearl earrings, have my nails done,

1:33:08 > 1:33:11but I think that's just part of who I am and, actually, you know,

1:33:11 > 1:33:14when I step out onto the hockey pitch,

1:33:14 > 1:33:16I'm exactly the same as everyone else and, actually,

1:33:16 > 1:33:18there's quite a lot of us that do sort of, you know,

1:33:18 > 1:33:21make sure they do their hair nicely and make-up

1:33:21 > 1:33:23and just take a bit of pride in our appearance, really.

1:33:23 > 1:33:25Well, presumably there is certain make-up

1:33:25 > 1:33:27that you've got to get, that's going to have to be waterproof.

1:33:27 > 1:33:30You can't suddenly be streaming with badger eyes, you know.

1:33:30 > 1:33:33It stings your eyes. If you get non-waterproof mascara

1:33:33 > 1:33:34and it gets in your eyes - game over.

1:33:34 > 1:33:38And people do tend to get dressed up more for a match

1:33:38 > 1:33:42than, you know, regular training here at Bisham and things.

1:33:42 > 1:33:45And, to be fair, it's not something that's specific to women.

1:33:45 > 1:33:47I mean, look at Cristiano Ronaldo, look at David Beckham.

1:33:47 > 1:33:49They really care about their appearance,

1:33:49 > 1:33:52- they're very aware they're on camera.- Yeah.

1:33:52 > 1:33:56I mean, for me, it's quite hard, because I put a helmet on my head.

1:33:56 > 1:33:59- But I try.- You do still put some on.

1:33:59 > 1:34:01Get the eyes going.

1:34:01 > 1:34:04But, yeah, it's just interesting when you said,

1:34:04 > 1:34:06obviously, girls getting into the sport.

1:34:06 > 1:34:08Goalkeeping in particular is a tough one

1:34:08 > 1:34:10to get girls to put all the pads on.

1:34:10 > 1:34:11One, exactly what you said,

1:34:11 > 1:34:13they think it smells and it's not exactly

1:34:13 > 1:34:14the most flattering look in the world

1:34:14 > 1:34:17and then you put a helmet on your head,

1:34:17 > 1:34:20and when you take that off, well, there's just mess.

1:34:20 > 1:34:22So it's a tough one, but I think, with these guys,

1:34:22 > 1:34:24we all make an effort, even I would do.

1:34:24 > 1:34:25But I think there is...

1:34:25 > 1:34:28what you said earlier about you've got the chance to be a hero,

1:34:28 > 1:34:31and you've done that and I think people like that.

1:34:31 > 1:34:34They're going, "Oh, you're not just the last line of defence",

1:34:34 > 1:34:37you actually can be a complete match-winner.

1:34:37 > 1:34:40Yeah, yeah, and that's why when I go into schools and talk to them,

1:34:40 > 1:34:42it's like, when you're little and you're growing up,

1:34:42 > 1:34:45who doesn't want to one day be the hero for the day?

1:34:45 > 1:34:48And I think, yeah, those moments in goalkeeping

1:34:48 > 1:34:51make all the little negatives that come with it well worth it,

1:34:51 > 1:34:53and I think it's a unique position.

1:34:53 > 1:34:55You have to have a unique character,

1:34:55 > 1:34:58but if a kid wants to grow up and be a hero,

1:34:58 > 1:35:01get the pads on and it will one day happen.

1:35:01 > 1:35:04Georgie, have you found, as we get closer now to Rio,

1:35:04 > 1:35:05that training is intensifying

1:35:05 > 1:35:08and everybody's attitude in training is changing?

1:35:08 > 1:35:10Erm, I think the beauty of our programme

1:35:10 > 1:35:11is that we have been training so hard

1:35:11 > 1:35:14for the last couple of years, you know, as it is,

1:35:14 > 1:35:18but I think because of the schedule of Rio being so intense

1:35:18 > 1:35:21and so many matches in such a short period of time,

1:35:21 > 1:35:25you know, we've started doing extra running after training sessions,

1:35:25 > 1:35:28plenty of matches plus training, plus gym,

1:35:28 > 1:35:31and sort of increasing the volume in that respect,

1:35:31 > 1:35:35just to make sure that, when it comes to Rio, it might seem...

1:35:35 > 1:35:37Well, hopefully it seems a bit easier

1:35:37 > 1:35:39than actually what we've been doing here at Bisham.

1:35:39 > 1:35:42Do you enjoy training?

1:35:42 > 1:35:45Erm... Do you know what, I quite like the gym.

1:35:45 > 1:35:47- Yeah, I like it. - It's an area that you can just...

1:35:47 > 1:35:51You get a lot of chat, a lot of gossip, a lot of banter,

1:35:51 > 1:35:53but at the same time it hurts

1:35:53 > 1:35:56and you're ready to get out after an hour and a half or so.

1:35:56 > 1:35:59But you can always push yourself in there and see what you can do,

1:35:59 > 1:36:01and if you're angry it's a great place to take out the anger.

1:36:01 > 1:36:04Slightly concerning, that, Maddie.

1:36:04 > 1:36:08So you're basically admitting to me that you have anger issues?

1:36:08 > 1:36:11Straight away... Have we revealed something straight away?

1:36:11 > 1:36:13There's something about the gym, it releases hormones

1:36:13 > 1:36:15and we are at our base level in the gym.

1:36:15 > 1:36:20Team GB claimed their first Olympic women's hockey medal for 20 years

1:36:20 > 1:36:24after defeating New Zealand in the bronze-medal match in London 2012.

1:36:24 > 1:36:29The hosts picked themselves up from a narrow semifinal defeat to Argentina,

1:36:29 > 1:36:33to secure a convincing 3-1 win over New Zealand.

1:36:33 > 1:36:36I want to know what impact their success has had

1:36:36 > 1:36:38on the game in Britain.

1:36:38 > 1:36:39I think it's made a difference

1:36:39 > 1:36:43in that we believe that we are one of the top teams in the world.

1:36:43 > 1:36:45We believe that we can beat anybody on the day.

1:36:45 > 1:36:47It's not kind of a, you know, if everything goes well

1:36:47 > 1:36:50we'll cobble something together and we'll get a result.

1:36:50 > 1:36:53No, we actually believe we can be the best team in the world,

1:36:53 > 1:36:56and I think you need the medals to feed into that confidence,

1:36:56 > 1:36:59otherwise it's kind of a bit of bluff and a bit of bravado.

1:36:59 > 1:37:00You need to back it up with actual medals,

1:37:00 > 1:37:03and I think we've been doing that over the last few years.

1:37:03 > 1:37:05Some of that comes from funding as well -

1:37:05 > 1:37:08and that's the other difference the medal in London made, isn't it?

1:37:08 > 1:37:10Yeah, I mean, we are so reliant

1:37:10 > 1:37:13and so fortunate in having funding.

1:37:13 > 1:37:15So we have a National Lottery grant.

1:37:15 > 1:37:18We get money from UK Sport for the programme

1:37:18 > 1:37:20and then we all get individual grants

1:37:20 > 1:37:21and, yeah, had we not medalled in London,

1:37:21 > 1:37:24that would have been cut, I think, substantially.

1:37:24 > 1:37:26And I think some of us knew, going out there,

1:37:26 > 1:37:28that, potentially, if we didn't medal,

1:37:28 > 1:37:32we would possibly lose quite a lot of our funding, and that's quite hard to take onto the field.

1:37:32 > 1:37:34I've been there in 2004 when we didn't qualify

1:37:34 > 1:37:35and we lost 70% of funding,

1:37:35 > 1:37:38and it was devastating for the programme.

1:37:38 > 1:37:41How tough was it, Georgie and Maddie - when she went,

1:37:41 > 1:37:44everybody was talking about the fact that, you know,

1:37:44 > 1:37:46it might be her last game...

1:37:46 > 1:37:50What were you thinking and were you hoping to persuade her otherwise?

1:37:50 > 1:37:52Yeah, I mean, you know,

1:37:52 > 1:37:56Kate has been such an inspirational leader to all of us,

1:37:56 > 1:37:57not just in our team

1:37:57 > 1:37:59but, I think, in the hockey world.

1:37:59 > 1:38:02I feel very lucky to have played alongside her,

1:38:02 > 1:38:03and we are extremely glad

1:38:03 > 1:38:06that she has continued to carry on playing,

1:38:06 > 1:38:09because she's an integral part of our team

1:38:09 > 1:38:12and will be key to our success in Rio.

1:38:12 > 1:38:14Erm... It will be a loss when she retires

1:38:14 > 1:38:18because, you know, she has been captain for such a long time,

1:38:18 > 1:38:20has brought so much to our sport,

1:38:20 > 1:38:23you know, not just on the field, but off the field as well,

1:38:23 > 1:38:27and there are big shoes to fill when she leaves us.

1:38:27 > 1:38:29How do you choose your captain?

1:38:29 > 1:38:32- Because it's not the coach's decision, is it?- No.

1:38:32 > 1:38:35It's a players' vote. I mean, going forward,

1:38:35 > 1:38:37we don't know how that will happen,

1:38:37 > 1:38:38but in the past it was a players' vote.

1:38:38 > 1:38:40And then, from that, the captain kind of emerges,

1:38:40 > 1:38:43but the way Kate came about it was quite interesting.

1:38:43 > 1:38:45We were voting for co-captains,

1:38:45 > 1:38:47and so I just thought we were going to have co-captains.

1:38:47 > 1:38:51The coach said, "There's just such an overwhelming vote that we'll just have a captain,"

1:38:51 > 1:38:53and they said it was going to be me. I was 23 at the time and I was like,

1:38:53 > 1:38:56"There's people in the team ten years older than me,

1:38:56 > 1:38:58"hugely experienced, multi-Olympians," and I was like,

1:38:58 > 1:39:00"Oh, my God. I don't even know what I'm doing."

1:39:00 > 1:39:03And I didn't know what I was doing for the first few years,

1:39:03 > 1:39:04but, yeah, we've kept that.

1:39:04 > 1:39:08I think we go through, like, what we want to be as a squad, don't we?

1:39:08 > 1:39:10Like, how we want to be remembered,

1:39:10 > 1:39:12what kind of squad we want to be,

1:39:12 > 1:39:14and then we talk about how that should be led

1:39:14 > 1:39:17and, therefore, who that should be led by.

1:39:17 > 1:39:20- And it always seems to work itself out.- Yeah.

1:39:20 > 1:39:22Do they call you Captain Kate?

1:39:22 > 1:39:25No. As a joke sometimes, maybe.

1:39:25 > 1:39:27- We should.- We will now. - All through Rio.

1:39:27 > 1:39:30Everybody thinks, "Right, you're the captain,"

1:39:30 > 1:39:32you've been captain for ever,

1:39:32 > 1:39:34that you're the leader on the pitch, but actually it seems to me

1:39:34 > 1:39:37you encourage a leadership in individuals all the time -

1:39:37 > 1:39:40that everybody's responsible for their own decisions.

1:39:40 > 1:39:43Absolutely. I think that's the strength of our programme and the squad.

1:39:43 > 1:39:45I was going to say, I think the amount of work

1:39:45 > 1:39:48that the goalkeepers do on set pieces is unbelievable,

1:39:48 > 1:39:50and then that's matched by the outfield players

1:39:50 > 1:39:51doing the very same thing

1:39:51 > 1:39:53for all of the opposition and all the outfield positions

1:39:53 > 1:39:56and players that we're going to play against.

1:39:56 > 1:39:57It's interesting to me, though,

1:39:57 > 1:40:00because people think of teamwork being just what you do on the pitch,

1:40:00 > 1:40:03but actually teamwork is everything, and more than anything

1:40:03 > 1:40:05it's what you do in the times in between competitions.

1:40:05 > 1:40:08- Yeah.- The off-the-pitch stuff for us is key,

1:40:08 > 1:40:12and obviously we spend a huge amount of time together as a group.

1:40:12 > 1:40:14So I think the gym is what we classify as

1:40:14 > 1:40:16as close to a social as we get together.

1:40:16 > 1:40:19But there's regular dancing situations or singing situations.

1:40:19 > 1:40:22We went through a phase with that One Direction song, didn't we?

1:40:22 > 1:40:24- What was it called? - History.- History.

1:40:24 > 1:40:28And we'd all just, like, get going.

1:40:28 > 1:40:31And it would just make us feel so much better. So, yeah, it's good.

1:40:31 > 1:40:35And then once we go, everyone goes home and then back in the next day.

1:40:35 > 1:40:37What impact does it have on your social life?

1:40:37 > 1:40:41I mean, do you ever go out to a party?

1:40:43 > 1:40:45A party?

1:40:45 > 1:40:49There are definitely lots of sacrifices that have to be made.

1:40:49 > 1:40:52When I first came into the squad, I was at university at the time,

1:40:52 > 1:40:56so it was a definite culture shock coming into the squad,

1:40:56 > 1:41:00but, kind of, you know, what it takes to be at your best

1:41:00 > 1:41:02and you learn what you can do and what you can't do.

1:41:02 > 1:41:05And, you know, there's a squad of 31,

1:41:05 > 1:41:08so it's everyone's individual responsibility

1:41:08 > 1:41:11to make sure that you are in the best possible shape.

1:41:11 > 1:41:15At the moment, sleep is an essential ingredient,

1:41:15 > 1:41:18so, at the moment, we are not partying at all.

1:41:18 > 1:41:21- So how many hours' sleep a night? - Ten.- Ten hours?

1:41:21 > 1:41:23- You two are quite good sleepers, actually.- We're good sleepers.

1:41:23 > 1:41:26I probably get about seven or eight

1:41:26 > 1:41:28and then I might have a nap if I can get time.

1:41:28 > 1:41:30I'm about eight or nine.

1:41:30 > 1:41:33I go for ten if I can.

1:41:33 > 1:41:35- So we're in bed at nine. - It's... Yeah, you know.

1:41:35 > 1:41:38God, we're really boring!

1:41:38 > 1:41:41No telly after nine o'clock? You've gone to bed.

1:41:41 > 1:41:43- It depends. It depends what's on. - Maddie's a later...

1:41:43 > 1:41:46Later going to sleep, but you'll have a lie-in,

1:41:46 > 1:41:49whereas I'll go to sleep early and wake up early.

1:41:49 > 1:41:52And, Georgie, have you noticed much more interest in you,

1:41:52 > 1:41:54and in hockey generally, since the Olympics?

1:41:54 > 1:41:56Yeah, definitely.

1:41:56 > 1:41:58I think the recent Europeans,

1:41:58 > 1:42:00we were sold out at Lee Valley,

1:42:00 > 1:42:03and I think participation of hockey has definitely grown

1:42:03 > 1:42:04since London 2012.

1:42:04 > 1:42:06You know, my hockey club at Surbiton,

1:42:06 > 1:42:11at the weekend we have at least 900 kids, maybe 1,000 kids turning up,

1:42:11 > 1:42:12which is fantastic.

1:42:12 > 1:42:15So last August, the European Championships

1:42:15 > 1:42:18were staged here in London, in Lee Valley.

1:42:18 > 1:42:20What happened, Maddie?

1:42:20 > 1:42:23So we got into the final and we were up against the Netherlands,

1:42:23 > 1:42:25the current Olympic and world champions,

1:42:25 > 1:42:28so we battled through to the end,

1:42:28 > 1:42:30got ourselves to a shootout

1:42:30 > 1:42:32and performed really well in that.

1:42:32 > 1:42:36How nerve-racking is it when you are a penalty-taker?

1:42:36 > 1:42:39Erm, it is quite nerve-racking.

1:42:39 > 1:42:41But we've done so much practice,

1:42:41 > 1:42:44so much work with the psychologist as well.

1:42:44 > 1:42:47But I must say that when I stepped up to take that penalty

1:42:47 > 1:42:49my heart was pounding.

1:42:49 > 1:42:55You know, it was such a critical moment in a final...

1:42:55 > 1:42:57And, yeah, I was quite nervous.

1:42:57 > 1:43:01And unfortunately that penalty didn't go in, but do you know,

1:43:01 > 1:43:04if that happened in an Olympic final and you had to do that again,

1:43:04 > 1:43:07would you feel different because you've been in that situation once?

1:43:07 > 1:43:09Definitely. I think, you know,

1:43:09 > 1:43:13the people that took the penalties have taken them previously

1:43:13 > 1:43:16and, for that reason, because we have stepped up on that stage,

1:43:16 > 1:43:18we've experienced the pressure

1:43:18 > 1:43:21and I've taken penalties since then,

1:43:21 > 1:43:25so if the coach was to ask me, I would step up again.

1:43:25 > 1:43:27As happened, it didn't matter,

1:43:27 > 1:43:30because how many penalties did you save?

1:43:30 > 1:43:33There was... I saved three out of the four.

1:43:33 > 1:43:36I was letting Maddie have the glory.

1:43:36 > 1:43:38That's very good of you! That's very good teamwork, you see.

1:43:38 > 1:43:42And your preparation is unparalleled

1:43:42 > 1:43:44and becoming legendary.

1:43:44 > 1:43:47So you had this little black book - and most people in the old days

1:43:47 > 1:43:49would have a little black book full of phone numbers -

1:43:49 > 1:43:51what's in your little black book?

1:43:51 > 1:43:54I wish there were some more phone numbers!

1:43:54 > 1:43:56Ah, but no.

1:43:56 > 1:43:59So, all it is... Normally I've done a lot of work elsewhere

1:43:59 > 1:44:01in just separate notes,

1:44:01 > 1:44:05and I basically narrow it down to kind of five or six clear points,

1:44:05 > 1:44:07so it'll be like "Number six," for example,

1:44:07 > 1:44:11"this is her strengths - likes to shoot on reverse",

1:44:11 > 1:44:12and then I'd have,

1:44:12 > 1:44:15"Get out hard then back off" or "tackle..."

1:44:15 > 1:44:19Basically a game plan to counteract their strength.

1:44:19 > 1:44:21And that's all I had, so every time I looked down I was just like,

1:44:21 > 1:44:23"She likes to do this," and cos I've seen the video

1:44:23 > 1:44:26I could kind of visualise in my head what I needed to do.

1:44:26 > 1:44:29But they hadn't taken a penalty shootout for years, had they?

1:44:29 > 1:44:31The Dutch don't end up in that situation that often,

1:44:31 > 1:44:33so I had very minimal footage on them,

1:44:33 > 1:44:36but I'd found some stuff at club level as well on certain players,

1:44:36 > 1:44:38and a few of the girls have played in Holland

1:44:38 > 1:44:39so they kind of knew them as well.

1:44:39 > 1:44:41So you can get little bits from everyone

1:44:41 > 1:44:43and then it gave me a direct thing

1:44:43 > 1:44:45that I knew I was going to do, so there was no hesitation,.

1:44:45 > 1:44:48And if they had the guts to step up and do something different,

1:44:48 > 1:44:50fair play, and then it becomes more of a game-on situation.

1:44:50 > 1:44:53But it was funny, cos every single Dutch player did exactly what I wrote down.

1:44:53 > 1:44:57And they were nervous looking at me looking in the book, and it could have been blank.

1:44:57 > 1:44:59It's a bit of a mental game. I just think, "Why not?"

1:44:59 > 1:45:02You know, if it helps, it helps - and so far it has.

1:45:02 > 1:45:05The only negative to it was what happened afterwards.

1:45:05 > 1:45:08Yeah. So... Well, it's interesting.

1:45:08 > 1:45:10In the third shuffle I tore my MCL.

1:45:10 > 1:45:13And like Kate said about adrenaline when she did her jaw -

1:45:13 > 1:45:14obviously nowhere near as bad -

1:45:14 > 1:45:17I remember thinking, "Oh, that hurt,"

1:45:17 > 1:45:19but I was like, "I'm fine."

1:45:19 > 1:45:21And then I went and slid for the pile-on

1:45:21 > 1:45:23and the whole team on top of me.

1:45:23 > 1:45:26I had two fingers that I could move and it was hurting so much

1:45:26 > 1:45:29and I was trying to pinch - I think it was Helen's shoulder -

1:45:29 > 1:45:31to tell her, "I think I'm in trouble."

1:45:31 > 1:45:33And then, yeah, it was fine

1:45:33 > 1:45:35and ran around like a headless chicken all evening

1:45:35 > 1:45:38and then, yeah, woke up in the morning and was quite sore.

1:45:38 > 1:45:40- And then had to have a bit of time off.- Yeah.

1:45:40 > 1:45:42I was going on holiday the next day

1:45:42 > 1:45:45and I turned up at the airport in this full leg brace and was like...

1:45:45 > 1:45:49"But we're European Champions, it doesn't matter!"

1:45:49 > 1:45:52- "Totally worth it!" - "Took one for the team!"

1:45:52 > 1:45:55After winning the 2015 EuroHockey Championships

1:45:55 > 1:45:57where they beat Holland, the world's top-ranked side,

1:45:57 > 1:46:00the squad have proved they have the pedigree

1:46:00 > 1:46:02to improve on their bronze medal in London.

1:46:02 > 1:46:07I want to know what confidence levels are like in the camp ahead of Rio.

1:46:07 > 1:46:09I think it's been a really exciting Olympics.

1:46:09 > 1:46:12There's a kind of top six, seven teams in the world

1:46:12 > 1:46:15really are going to be vying for those medals,

1:46:15 > 1:46:18and strength and depth in women's hockey has really grown,

1:46:18 > 1:46:20which I'm really pleased to see.

1:46:20 > 1:46:23But it just means it's going to be tight.

1:46:23 > 1:46:26And with the quarterfinal format this time, that's different -

1:46:26 > 1:46:28first time we're going to have that.

1:46:28 > 1:46:30It's really, like, cat amongst the pigeons,

1:46:30 > 1:46:32everybody's in with a shout, so it's exciting.

1:46:32 > 1:46:35You've got a very strong group at the Olympics,

1:46:35 > 1:46:38your opening match is going to be against Australia.

1:46:38 > 1:46:41How much homework do you do on the opposition?

1:46:41 > 1:46:44As well as working on your own technique and strength and game,

1:46:44 > 1:46:48how much are you mugging up on them and everyone else in your group?

1:46:48 > 1:46:49Many, many hours.

1:46:49 > 1:46:51So, our coaching staff,

1:46:51 > 1:46:56we have an analyst who is just phenomenal at what she does,

1:46:56 > 1:46:58and how she breaks the game down.

1:46:58 > 1:47:00And we can go up there

1:47:00 > 1:47:04and look at any game, any player, any edit, any moment of game,

1:47:04 > 1:47:06and she can pull that out for us

1:47:06 > 1:47:08and we can look at it in detail, we can slow-mo it.

1:47:08 > 1:47:11Sometimes we can get it from a couple of angles.

1:47:11 > 1:47:14And there are literally hours spent,

1:47:14 > 1:47:17"OK, I'm going to likely play against these forwards,

1:47:17 > 1:47:18"what do they do?"

1:47:18 > 1:47:21As Maddie said, what do they revert to under pressure,

1:47:21 > 1:47:24what is their type, and how am I going to need to play against that?

1:47:24 > 1:47:26And when we go to tournaments, I think that's our strength

1:47:26 > 1:47:29and Danny's strength as coach, is our tactical set-up is always,

1:47:29 > 1:47:31I think, one of the best in the world.

1:47:31 > 1:47:34- Have you been to Rio, any of you? - Nope.

1:47:34 > 1:47:36But you know where you're going to be.

1:47:36 > 1:47:38- Are you staying in the Olympic Village?- Yeah.

1:47:38 > 1:47:40And, obviously, you've done that before, Kate.

1:47:40 > 1:47:42Maddie, this is your first Olympics.

1:47:42 > 1:47:46Yeah, so in the London cycle, Danny sent myself and Susanna Townsend

1:47:46 > 1:47:48on this "mission programme" to get a bit of an experience

1:47:48 > 1:47:50of what it's all about, and actually,

1:47:50 > 1:47:52I'm quite grateful for that

1:47:52 > 1:47:54because there's a huge amount of distractions

1:47:54 > 1:47:57and the village was so cool and, like, so much going on

1:47:57 > 1:47:59and people that you admire just walking past casually

1:47:59 > 1:48:00and I was like...

1:48:00 > 1:48:04I think having done that now, it will be a little less daunting.

1:48:04 > 1:48:08It will still be epic, I'm sure, but I definitely have a little bit

1:48:08 > 1:48:11of an understanding of how it's going to look and feel and, erm...

1:48:11 > 1:48:13- I think that's why he sent us on that.- Yeah.

1:48:13 > 1:48:18And for you guys, it is the beginning of an Olympic adventure.

1:48:18 > 1:48:21For you, Kate, it's definitely the last one, do you think?

1:48:21 > 1:48:23I don't think you can take anything other than the next day.

1:48:23 > 1:48:27I think at the moment it's because everything is so intense,

1:48:27 > 1:48:29just focusing on the next thing, the next day,

1:48:29 > 1:48:32and I think what will be will be, afterwards, but for the moment

1:48:32 > 1:48:35this has really got to have all my focus and attention.

1:48:35 > 1:48:38Just finally, people are going to be watching you, supporting you,

1:48:38 > 1:48:43obviously, what chance do you give yourself of winning a medal

1:48:43 > 1:48:46and what chance of that medal being gold, Maddie?

1:48:46 > 1:48:48I think we've got every chance of winning a gold medal.

1:48:48 > 1:48:50I think we've shown that now as we've just really

1:48:50 > 1:48:53progressed as a side and started to pick up more medals along the way.

1:48:53 > 1:48:56The Europeans, even though it was England,

1:48:56 > 1:48:59was a massive turning point in us as a programme and group,

1:48:59 > 1:49:03cos not having quite ever reached that gold medal standard meant you

1:49:03 > 1:49:06never fully understood what it took to get there or what it feels like.

1:49:06 > 1:49:09And I remember afterwards thinking,

1:49:09 > 1:49:11"If that's what a European gold medal feels like,

1:49:11 > 1:49:14"what on earth would an Olympic gold medal feel like?"

1:49:14 > 1:49:17And it's just given everyone that extra little push to be like,

1:49:17 > 1:49:20"Right, let's make sure we go out there and give it our

1:49:20 > 1:49:23"absolute best and leave no stone unturned and be ready."

1:49:23 > 1:49:24But like Kate said,

1:49:24 > 1:49:27the world of women's hockey is more competitive than ever.

1:49:27 > 1:49:30The format is brutal.

1:49:30 > 1:49:33And every team will be on their game, so...

1:49:33 > 1:49:36We'll need a few things to go our way, as sport does,

1:49:36 > 1:49:39but we will certainly leave there with no regrets

1:49:39 > 1:49:42and we'll give it our best shot and I see no reason why

1:49:42 > 1:49:47we can't win a gold medal and, yeah, we'll just see how we get on.

1:49:47 > 1:49:50- Georgie? - I don't know how I follow that!

1:49:50 > 1:49:54- She's very good, isn't she? - Very good, Maddie.- Thanks.

1:49:54 > 1:49:58Yeah, I mean, you know, we won that gold medal.

1:49:58 > 1:50:02As Maddie said, winning that European gold medal gave us

1:50:02 > 1:50:07a real taster of what success is and what we can actually achieve.

1:50:07 > 1:50:09Erm, and so...

1:50:09 > 1:50:12You know, to go to the Olympics and to try

1:50:12 > 1:50:14and get that gold medal is all of our dreams

1:50:14 > 1:50:19and it's what we've been training for day in, day out, back here.

1:50:19 > 1:50:23Each game, no matter where you're ranked in the world rankings,

1:50:23 > 1:50:25is going to be tough.

1:50:25 > 1:50:29And we know that come Rio, come the first game,

1:50:29 > 1:50:32we will be fully prepared, whichever team that goes

1:50:32 > 1:50:36and we'll have the backing of the whole of the GB side.

1:50:36 > 1:50:39It's so exciting, isn't it? Kate, it's so exciting.

1:50:39 > 1:50:40It is amazingly exciting.

1:50:40 > 1:50:44To see this group of girls that gets selected, to see them go out

1:50:44 > 1:50:48and represent a squad of 31 and have that whole belief of the programme,

1:50:48 > 1:50:51what we've done, the preparation,

1:50:51 > 1:50:56all the hours we spent on the hockey pitch, the gym, the meeting room,

1:50:56 > 1:50:59will be worth it for those moments we're in that bubble

1:50:59 > 1:51:03of the Olympic Games and I really do believe we can win a gold medal.

1:51:03 > 1:51:06Good luck to you and thank you so much for your time.

1:51:06 > 1:51:08- Thanks for having us.- Thank you.

1:51:08 > 1:51:12It's amazing how much you can tell, how much you can read into

1:51:12 > 1:51:15body language, the way people are with each other.

1:51:15 > 1:51:17You can see what a good team they are

1:51:17 > 1:51:21and what strong members of the squad, but also in their own ways,

1:51:21 > 1:51:25that Maddie and Georgie lead as much as Kate does and she encourages that,

1:51:25 > 1:51:28so she's not just a leader in name,

1:51:28 > 1:51:30she empowers those around her.

1:51:30 > 1:51:32And you can also tell the love and

1:51:32 > 1:51:35respect that her team-mates have for her.

1:51:35 > 1:51:36So good luck to them in Rio.

1:51:36 > 1:51:38It's going to be hugely exciting

1:51:38 > 1:51:41and if they can get into the position of getting

1:51:41 > 1:51:44into the gold medal match then who's to say they couldn't become

1:51:44 > 1:51:47the first British women ever to win the Olympic gold medal?

1:51:47 > 1:51:49Fingers crossed.