accEnT on sUccEss for
HisTory Girl saraH
you only have to talk to sarah “I got involved with Dowlais ladies hockey “We start with the first game against the
Thomas to get a quick impression club, then moved up to Swansea ladies and Olympic champions Germany followed by
of the sacrifices she has made to four years ago I moved to Rotterdam in the Argentina who are one of the most skilful
become the first Welsh hockey Netherlands to play there. teams in the world, but we will go as one of
outfield player in Great Britain’s the strongest physically which will help us.”
olympics squads. “That has had the biggest effect on my
career. They are the world champions and Thomas has time on her side to aim for the
Her voice illustrates that hockey journey the structure over there is fantastic with 2012 Olympics in London as well, but is
which started as a 12-year-old with the their hockey, very attacking and it is lucky I trying not to look too far ahead. Meanwhile
short distance from Merthyr to Dowlais, have been able to slot in. the rest of Welsh hockey is aiming to catch
has since taken her to Swansea, Exeter, her up.
Rotterdam in Holland and Bisham Abbey in “It was a big decision to make to go there,
England with the rest of the GB squad, with I went to university outside Wales but “It is a remarkable achievement in many
Beijing the next destination. I did not really want to leave my family. respects,” admitted Welsh hockey chief
However it is only an hour flight and executive Mike Leatt. “Hockey was not
Her accent has traces of all of them, a mix my parents come over to see my games played at her school, so her story is a great
of Welsh lilt, more normal English tones regularly. inspiration for any youngster.
along with the strange burr of English as
spoken in Holland. “I have always been interested in sports “In the ideal world it would be nice if we
and then I found hockey. My parents could do it within Wales, but we have
“I don’t know where I am any more to be supported me all the way, driving me to learned a lot from it.
honest,” she admitted. “I went to Exeter Swansea every Tuesday for training and
University and my accent changed, now then matches every weekend. “We have looked at the Dutch system and
I am in Holland and we travel a lot so it one or two others and it has helped us
has changed again – it’s definitely not the “I just continued up through the ranks with understand the sort of structure we need
valleys accent it used to be, that’s for sure.” Wales and love playing.” to put in place in Wales to create future
GB athletes.
It is a quirky symbol of her commitment to Helen Morgan won a bronze medal in
s
arah Thomas
reach the top and it is a lesson not lost on Barcelona in 1992, Wendy Banks went “Over the last year we have started that
Welsh hockey that she had to move around to the Seoul Olympics in 1988 – both process. We do not want to leave it to
so much to do so. were goalkeepers, making Thomas the chance.
third Welsh woman hockey player at the
There is a determination within the current Olympics and first outfield player. “By setting up the performance
structure to ensure that Welsh players development centres and the club
in the future can have a smoother, and Fellow former Swansea player Morgan accreditation schemes, linking junior
hopefully more home-based, ride to the has been in touch with Thomas to wish schools into the clubs, we hope it will give
highest levels. her luck and emulating that achievement us the structure to develop the Sarah’s of
lympians -
by coming back with a medal is now the the future.
o
After all it was a stroke of luck that set objective.
Thomas on the path which will now take “If we do that and people can stay in Wales
her to Beijing, as her school in Merthyr did “Every athlete going to the Olympics to get to that level then that would be
not have regular hockey matches. wants to win a gold medal and that is brilliant.”
the aspiration. In the heat and humidity
Welsh
“I played a game in school one day and anyone can come out top so we are Thomas has shown the way forward for
scored a couple of goals and all of a sudden looking forward to it,” said the 27-year- Welsh hockey players, but maybe the
I really liked it and thought that was old attacking player on a rare visit back to changes taking place will make the journey
SW
brilliant. I went home and told my Mum Wales. shorter and the accents more familiar in
22
and Dad I wanted to play hockey,” she future.
explained.
sportingwales
issue3twothousand&eight
SW_Issue3.indd 22 30/7/08 11:11:31
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