Thursday, December 12, 2024

Paris Olympics hockey: Fiona Crackles on farming and GB women hopes

Cumbria star Fiona Crackles hailed the documentary ‘Clarkson’s Farm’ for helping her Olympic team-mates understand the demands of her agricultural background.

Crackles is one of 10 players in the 16-strong Team GB squad for Paris 2024 who are returning to the Olympic stage having won bronze at Tokyo 2020.

The 24-year-old, who grew up on a dairy and sheep farm in Kirkby Lonsdale, has seen her hockey squad’s eyes opened to the rigours of farm life.

“I think he’s done something really special and opened the public’s eyes to farming life,” said Crackles. “Quite a lot of the girls in the team have watched it, which is nice.

“I’m proud of where I come from and all of the girls know that. It’s nice for them to see what it is really like.

READ MORE: Paris 2024 Olympics: Hockey schedule, match fixtures
Our full Olympic coverage of 2024 Games

“It’s great to have so many people come up to me and be like, ‘I never knew farming was so hard or so complex or relied so much on the weather.’

“It’s really nice to see people taking an interest and learning about the highs and lows of farming. It’s an emotional job – a lot comes with it, it’s a lifestyle, not a job and the reaction to it all has been cool.”

Crackles only made her senior international debut in October 2020 and less than a year later, picked up an Olympic medal.

Since the whirlwind of Tokyo, she has taken time to develop on and off the field and has just completed a degree at Durham University.

Crackles will be able to attend her graduation ceremony just before the Games with her dissertation focusing on the perceived impact of female menstrual cycles on elite sports performance.

Fiona Crackles scored her first international goal PIC: EHF/Worldsportpics

“It’s been really nice to grow and develop as a person, not just as a player,” said Crackles.

“I feel like my role in the team has changed. I’ve found my feet and my playing style a bit now, which is really nice, although I’m always trying to learn as much as I can and be a sponge.

“I was young when I joined the programme and I am still young, so I’m always constantly learning new things about myself, how I interact with other people and within the team. I feel like your twenties are for growing and developing and I feel like I’ve definitely done that.”

Crackles is planning to bring her trademark tough-tackling and physical style to the table in Paris – although she is ready to rein things in too.

“I’m hoping to get a few less cards and I’m trying to time my tackles a bit better!” said Crackles. “I hopefully still have that gritty element to my game. My childhood was about getting stuck in and working as hard as I can.

“I’m hoping to bring a bit more technical ability alongside so that to not just be bumbling my way through, but that’s hopefully what I’ll be able to bring.”

National Lottery players raise more than £30million a week for good causes including vital funding into sport – from grassroots to elite. To find out more visit: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk #TNLAthletes

Hockey Factory Shop

spot_img

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

More from Author

Hockey Australia accused of ‘power abuse’ after Rosie Malone axed

Cast aside Hockeyroo Rosie Malone has accused her former employers of...

England Hockey aims to smooth over player, coach rift

England men’s interim coach Zak Jones says the Holcombe fall out...

‘Flourishing’ Essex hockey club secures hockey sponsorship

An Essex club with over 100 years of history has secured...

451 and out! Eddie Ockenden calls time on hockey career

Kookaburras great Eddie Ockenden has called time on his stellar international...

- A word from our sponsors -

spot_img