HINCH Madeleine Claire

General
CAREER BREAK AND RETURN
In September 2018 she decided to take a three-month break from the sport and spent time in Australia. She made herself available again for national team selection in May 2019. "It [2018] was my 10th year of what would have been full-time athlete, living in the same area, doing the same thing and seeing the same faces. It had become a little bit stale for me and essentially I burnt out. I'm hoping I can show that this is a good thing. Thankfully I came back excited and I hadn't felt that for a long time. I was actually quite grateful for that extra year [due to the postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo], just another year for me to settle with the group. A lot had changed - new coaching team, new players. So it's just more of a chance for me to get to know them and feel settled." (givemesport.com, 07 May 2021; inews.co.uk, 28 Dec 2019; telegraph.co.uk, 23 Jun 2019)

GOALKEEPING THRILL
She says she is aware of the danger of her playing position but that she takes pleasure in it. "Any hockey goalkeeper who says they've never closed their eyes for a second and thought, 'Please don't hit me' is lying. There are definitely those scary moments, but it's something that you grow to enjoy, which sounds slightly weird. You're the last person in line and you can keep the team in it and potentially win games. It's a complete thrill." (bbc.com, 16 Aug 2013)