Seven years ago, Simon Lee fielded a general enquiry from an aspiring goalkeeper who had just broken into the Scotland under-16 squad.
Lee, who has coached GB debutant Jess Buchanan since she was 15, then recalls her father asking if she “had something” after one of their early goalkeeper sessions. “The short answer was ‘yes’,” says Lee. “I don’t think I have met a 15-year-old athlete who was as driven and knew what her goal was.
“She was very clear about wanting to be a senior Scotland international, wanting to be the Scottish No.1 and also to be the GB No.1. You don’t get many 15-year-olds with that, but also have the determination to do it.”
Buchanan, from Glasgow, could yet to be offered a ticket to the Paris Games when selection is confirmed next week. Should the 22-year-old be selected for Team GB, her meteoric rise would come as no surprise to Lee, who owns One Hockey.
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