Thank you Maddie Hinch

England and Great Britain goalkeeper Maddie Hinch has announced her retirement from international hockey after a glittering career.

The 34 year-old, who made her international debut, in 2008, aged 19, played 118 games for England and Great Britain over a 15 year period.

She was part of the historic gold medal winning GB Team in Rio in 2016, where she famously saved all four penalties in the shoot-out against reigning Olympic champions, Holland. Maddie also went on to win bronze at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

She followed-up her silver and bronze Commonwealth Games medals from 2014 and 2018  with a historic first ever gold Commonwealth gold for England last summer in Birmingham. Maddie was awarded an MBE in 2017 for her services to hockey.

Despite retiring from the international stage, she will continue to play club hockey for HC Tilburg in Holland.

Announcing her retirement, she said:

“They say that when you know, you know, and I just know. The time is right. I have lived my childhood dream and given all that I can give to the badge. I have always believed that to be the best and to succeed, you have to be 'all-in'. As difficult as it is, I know I can no longer give 100% of me to the number one shirt and so I have decided to retire."

England Hockey CEO, Nick Pink, added:

“Maddie will go down as one the greatest British hockey players of all-time and leaves behind an incredible legacy for our sport. What she has achieved in the international game is nothing short of phenomenal and her performance in 2016 Olympic final is part of British sporting folklore. Everyone at England Hockey wishes her a happy and well-deserved retirement and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for her.”