SMELLS LIKE TEAM SPIRIT
Rio 2016 saw a record number of women taking up hockey, cricket and netball. Discover the fun, confidence and resilience that comes from playing in a team – and start building your ‘we stories’
PLAY TIME
WORDS LAURA POTTER
Last summer women’s team sport was thrust into the spotlight as Team GB women’s hockey team grabbed gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Anyone watching the final penalty shootout last year will have enjoyed the pure elation that came with their win, but also the display of unity, sisterhood and joy that emanated from our screens as the team linked hands and ran across the pitch in celebration. They weren’t tipped to win, but it was their team spirit as much as their skill that got them there.
‘We all knew our roles and we embraced them, there wasn’t going to be a star performer,’ says Susannah Townsend, midfielder. ‘We knew we’d never play as that group again, so we savoured the moment and did it for each other. You can’t fake that. If anybody saw our friendship and thought “I want to be part of that”, then picked up a hockey stick, we’ve done our job.’