The Hockeyroos share a joke with John Coates - Click Here

The team receives its Olympic clothing - Click Here

Hockeyroos surprise at walking out almost last at opening ceremony - Click Here

SUPERSTAR Hockeyroo Nikki Hudson has shrugged off a poor lead-up to the Beijing Olympics by boldly predicting a medal play-off for her faltering team.

Hudson, 32, who will be playing in her fourth Olympic tournament, stepped off a plane from Kuala Lumpur in the small hours of this morning with a spring in her step.

"We came here with the highest expectations of ourselves," she said.

  The day has finally arrived where I board the Qantas flight to depart to the Beijing Olympic Games. I can't believe its been four years since I played in the Athens Olympic Games. Wow, how quickly time passes. This year has been a very intense and at times disappointing year in terms of our results. We came fifth in the champion's trophy in June, we recently played Japan in four test matches and we lost two of them. And although some might ask if it is panic stations for the Hockeyroos.....I say no its not. I feel the past few months we have come a long way together. We have pulled together as a tight group through some pretty hard training sessions. When the Olympic 16 were picked rather than show lots of elation our first reactions were for our mates who had missed the cut. Our mates who had worked equally as hard over the past couple of years and more so over the past 6 months to get a spot in the Olympic team. Unfortunately only 16 out of the squad can be picked and I feel very sad for those who have missed out. But rest assured when we take the field as the Australian Olympic team we will play for each other and we will play for those girls who were with us all the way.

  Personally this year has been an interesting one for me. I moved over to Perth in January to begin our full time training program and in the 7 months since I left I have not been home to see my family or friends so I struggled at times being so far away. I missed the birth of my new niece and have not seen her yet so I can't wait to get home and see her for the first time! These are the kind of sacrifices you make when you want to achieve the ultimate for your country.

  This year has been a year of milestones for me. I was honoured to become the highest capped female player in the history of Australia. I will also play my 300th test match for my country in Beijing. I will hopefully score my 100th goal in Beijing, and I will be playing with my age printed on my back......my playing number is 32 and in July I turned 32.....what a strange coincidence! All of this would not have been possible without the support of some very special people who I would like to thank.

  Firstly my family. I have been blessed throughout my career to have the most supportive family who keep me very grounded. They have shown me immense support and care and have been there for me throughout some tough times. Thank you very much. Someone else who is very dear to my heart is Jenno. Sadly we are no longer in a relationship but over the past 6 years he has been my rock. He has done what no-one else could have done. He taught me how to push myself beyond my comfort zone. He taught me what it takes to be a world class athlete. He believed in me, he guided me with all this experience and knowledge, he supported me through the good and bad times, and in helping me overcome my serious knee injury he prolonged my career by many years. I will forever be grateful for having him by my side throughout such an important part of my career and life and I know he will continue to inspire those around him to great things. Jenno I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I wish you all the best in your new jobs back in the UK. To my sponsors who have been with me for a period of time now. Thank you for your continued support and your belief in me. Without your generous support and friendship I would not be where I am today. I hope to wear your product, use your product, drive your product and market your product to the very best of my ability and as much as you believe in me rest assured I believe in your product equally as much. I hope we can continue our very successful relationships. To my faithful friends and extended family. You have all been so supportive of me throughout the years; you have been by my side to help me and to share wonderful friendships. Without my personal life I would be lost. Thank you for making me laugh, for caring for me and for being wonderful friends. I can't wait to get home to you all and catch up on the 8 months I have been away from you all. You all mean the world to me and I am so lucky to have your friendship.

  I now go to Beijing ready to give my all for my country. As I always say........I play for the name on the front of my bodysuit not the back of my bodysuit (I play for Australia and not for Hudson). Please keep your fingers crossed for the Hockeyroos to have success in Beijing and I will endeavour to make you proud each time I take the field............

Published: New Idea Monday 28th July 08 - Click Here to download

For the straight shooter, playing for her country's reward in itself

She's blonde, glam, and dangerous with a hockey stick. When our most experienced Hockeyroo takes to the field,  the steely look in her eyes would strike fear into any opponent. Nikki Hudson, who first stepped out in green and  gold at 17, hasn't lost her mojo after 15 years of poaching goals. The Sydney 2000 gold medallist will play her 300th game for her country in Beijing.

For the past eight months, Nikki's been sweating it out with her teammates at a gruelling training camp in Perth.

It's the same for all of us, revolving every hour of our day around hockey,' Nikki says.

It's the choice we make in order to play at the Olympics. You're prepared to sacrifice anything you can for it.'

Nikki, 32, has even put aside her own heartache for her Olympic journey. Boyfriend of four years Ian Jennings, an English hockey coach, returned to the UK in January.

It's hard. We're still together but our sporting careers have taken us in separate directions,' she says.

But Hockeyroo co-captain Nikki knows where her immediate future lies: ?It's almost surreal. Not only am I going to the Olympics, but it's my third one. You can't ever get sick of how exciting that feels.'

Did you know?
While in Perth, the Hockeyroos trained once a week in a humidity chamber set at an oppressive temperature to mirror Chinese summer weather.  Australia will vie with the Netherlands, Argentina and Germany for Olympic medals.

By: Robert Craddock   

AUSTRALIA's hockey teams will ignore the gloomy forecasts for Beijing's air quality and march in the Olympic opening ceremony.

Women's coach Frank Murray left the decision in the hands of his 16 players and they have voted resoundingly to march on August 8 despite the fact their opening match, against Korea, will be just two days away.

Nikki Hudson, the side's most experienced player, felt the decision was the right one.

"We were given the choice and have decided to march,'' Hudson said. "You want to be there for your country and experiencing that. I am pretty sure we will all march together.

"We had a chat about it when we were in Japan recently and Frank said he would leave it up to us. The day after it is very important leading in to our first match.

"So long as we look after ourselves, drink plenty of water and stay off our feet as much as we can it should be fine.

"It is also really nice to show the Australian Olympic Committee some support and show them you appreciate being out there.''

Men's coach Barry Dancer said his side had not made an official decision but expected they would also march.

"We have not discussed it but it is very likely we would -- I don't think there would be a performance issue over it,'' said Dancer, who felt it may provide a timely change of pace for his side after heavy pre-Games training.

The men's side is about to round off its Games preparation with a three-Test series against Korea in Cairns.
Hurdler Sally McLellan lamented the athletics team would not be marching in the opening ceremony after a decision made by Athletics Australia.

"People are too negative about these things,'' she said. "They get too stressed about them.''

By: Robert Craddock

NIKKI Hudson is unsure what fate awaits her in the Beijing Olympics but she knows one thing . . . "big brother'' will be watching her.

Olympic hockey veteran Hudson, long-serving Ang Lambert and rookie Kate Hollywood will share a room that is part of the coaches' quarters in the space-restricted Olympic village.

Just across the hallway will be coach Frank Murray and his staff.

"I don't think there will be any sneaking out because we won't be able to get past `Dad' on the door,'' Hudson quipped.

"Frank is shaking his head saying `Great, I've got the two blondes (Hudson and Hollywood).'

"He asked me what he could bring and I said a hairdryer. We will bring the straighteners and we will be all set.

"He is a little worried about us. He thinks he has put us in his room so he can keep an eye on the older blonde (Hudson) and the younger blonde (Hollywood).''

If Hudson sounds relaxed it is because with almost 300 internationals behind her, there is nothing in the game which can surprise her.

Her number -- 32 -- is also her age so she concedes there is no escaping the senior citizen's tag.

"It is so funny -- I am broadcasting my old age on my back as I am playing,'' Hudson said.

"With 19 and 21-year-olds in the team I certainly feel like an old veteran. Amazingly enough, I don't feel apart from the younger ones. I just love the younger players and they bring such vitality to the team. I always get Frank to room me with them.

"I am still loving it . . . it is a great life. This is my 16th year yet every year is as exciting as the first.''

Among her teammates is a player 13 years her junior -- Casey Eastham -- who remembers once treasuring Hudson's autograph.

"It certainly puts into perspective how far I have come,'' Hudson said.

"She might think it is an experience for her (to play alongside Hudson). But for me to be playing alongside someone so young, vibrant and exciting is a real buzz.

"It makes you look forward to the future, to playing at London (2012 Olympics). To have a player like that gives you every confidence that we are going to have a great team in the future and I want to be a part of that.''

The women's team, which once dominated in a way few female sporting teams ever have, has seen the world close in on it in recent seasons.

When Australian won Olympic gold in Seoul in 1988 there were only four teams in the competition. Now there are 12 and Hudson believes six are capable of winning it.

"China at home will be fantastic. Japan are playing well and the Dutch team, the South Koreans and the Argentinians are big threats,'' she said.

"I just think it will be whoever handles the heat best. I don't think there will be big scores. Matches will be won by maybe one or two goals.''

A fifth-placed finish in the recent Champions Trophy, then a drawn series against Japan left the Australians rated fourth in the world and in the same position on bookmakers' boards entering the Games.

"It's not such a bad thing because now everyone is doubting that we can win a medal,'' Hudson said.

"The same thing happened to the Sydney Olympic team. We went to the Champions Trophy before the Olympics and came third.

"We went from being the undefeated world champions to `oh my God, panic stations -- we've just come third two months outside the Olympics'.''

Despite being Australia's most capped female player Hudson does not believe she deserves to be ranked the nation's best-ever player.

"I could never accept that title because there are too many good players through the ranks,'' she said.