By Megan Norris - Womens Day
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Nikki Hudson
Age: 32
Sport: Women's hockey.
A member of the Hockeyroos since 1992, Nikki Hudson has tasted the highs and lows of Olympic success. This time, going in as team captain, the 32-year-old says hopes to repeat the success of 2000 and step away from the bitter disappointment of fifth in Athens.
This is your third Olympics. Does it feel different going into it than your first two?
Obviously I've experienced a lot more in the hockey world going into my third one, and having played almost 300 international matches, but I don't think you even get over the excitement you feel at an Olympics. That never changes. It's always a big buzz and something that is very exciting.
The team won gold in Sydney, then came fifth in Athens ? has that made you more motivated to do better this time?
I think it does. You're playing in the Olympics, the ultimate in our sport, and it should always be your goal to win. But I've experience both ? the elation of winning and the disappointment of not achieving what you'd hoped you could ? and to have gone through two completely different feelings is just unbelievable in how different they were. Obviously I know which feeling I'd rather have, and it's just going to take a lot of hard work. Fingers crossed it will all go to plan.
There's a lot of distraction at the Games. Is it difficult to stay focused on the task ahead?
I don't think so. We've trained for four solid years, and the last six months have been especially intense. You sacrifice so much and put your body through so much pain and hard work and, you know, it could come down to one game. One game, and your dream could be shattered.
Speaking of sacrifice, there are members of the team who have had to leave their families and jobs to realise their Olympic dreams.
It's a massive sacrifice. But that's what we do. We chose to do it, not because it's easy but because it's hard. I've been in the team for 16 years, and I love the challenge of it. And even though the sacrifices are part of it, it's almost an expectation. It's a great life and I wouldn't change it for anything.
As captain, do you feel responsible for the team's success?
I do, but something we encourage is that everyone is a leader and everyone takes individual responsibility. We've got a great bunch of girls and we all get along exceptionally well. But being a leader, you want to make sure that everyone is happy and that everyone is well.
