Golden moment as UQ Hockey Club trio earn selection in Paris Olympics squad
By Michael Jones
Three’s company for UQ Hockey Club stars Tatum Stewart, Claire Colwill and Rebecca Greiner, who will fly the University flag at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The trio has been selected in the Australian squad following stand-out performances for the Hockeyroos in the FIH Pro League in Europe in June.
It makes the occasion even sweeter for Stewart, who will make her Olympic debut in Paris.
“I've been playing with Claire since 2014, when we made our first Queensland team together, and we've played in the same state and national teams ever since,” Stewart said.
“I’ve got a strong connection with her on the pitch and I'm so excited to be going into another ‘first experience’ with her at the Olympics.
“Same with Bec [Greiner] – I admired her well before I joined the UQ Hockey Club. She’s such a strong athlete, and now that I know her as a person and as a friend, her character is exactly the same.
“I'm so excited to be sharing this experience with 2 people from the same club who really know what it's like back home in Queensland. Not many, if any, girls in the team can say that they're going to the Olympics with their club teammates.”
Claire Colwill, Rebecca Greiner and Tatum Stewart. Images: Will Russell/Getty Images
Claire Colwill, Rebecca Greiner and Tatum Stewart. Images: Will Russell/Getty Images
Stewart said the UQ Hockey Club’s strong representation at the Paris Olympics is another stellar achievement for the club, which is celebrating 100 years of men’s hockey and 122 years of women’s hockey in 2024.
“Having 3 club representatives all on the same Olympics team is a testament to the strength of UQ hockey and how important sport is to university life,” the Bachelor of Health, Sport and Physical Education (Honours) student and UQ Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient said.
“The history and depth of talent across the club for over a century is amazing, and hopefully we can continue that legacy with a strong performance in Paris.
“As a student athlete, I wouldn't have been able to achieve what I have without the University’s support. Every time I've faced an obstacle with my studies clashing with my sport, I've always received the help I needed.
“I’m proud to be part of a university that supports my academic endeavours so that I can be the best player I can be, while still being a well-rounded person.”
Stewart made her first appearance for Australia in March 2023 and has already earned 24 caps for the Hockeyroos, scoring 5 goals.
Colwill, who is also making her Olympic debut, first represented the Hockeyroos against New Zealand in 2022. The UQ Hockey Club defender won a silver medal for Australia at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and a bronze medal at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup the same year.
UQ alum Greiner (Bachelor of Behavioural Science ’22) – who also won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup in 2022 – is the more experienced of the 3, having represented the Hockeyroos 66 times since her first appearance against Argentina in 2018.
Image: Hockey Australia
The Hockeyroos head to Paris full of confidence after victories over Olympic heavyweights Argentina and Great Britain in the FIH Pro League season in Europe earlier this year.
Australia will take on Argentina, Great Britain, Spain, United States and South Africa in their Olympic pool matches.
“Having beaten both Argentina and Great Britain, which are 2 of the stronger teams in our pool, it definitely gives us a confidence boost,” Stewart said.
“We have recent evidence that shows we can match them and go one further and beat them, but anything can happen at the Olympics. It's the pinnacle of our sport, and everyone is fighting to be in that gold-medal match.
“We can't assume that what's happened in the past is going to happened in the future.
Image: Hockey Australia
Image: Hockey Australia
Tatum Stewart in action for the Hockeyroos. Image: Hockey Australia
Tatum Stewart in action for the Hockeyroos. Image: Hockey Australia
The Hockeyroos and their men’s counterparts, the Kookaburras, are 2 of Australia's most successful teams with a combined 13 Olympic medals between them.
Stewart, Colwill and Greiner are focussed on adding to that medal tally as they put the final touches on their preparations at the Hockeyroos’ training camp in Perth.
“This is the time when we dial in as a group and look for those ‘one-per-centers’ that can give us an edge in Paris,” Stewart said.
“We've already done the bulk of the work – we have 6 months of intense training under our belts and have played some high-quality international matches.
“Our coach Katrina Powell has an Olympic gold medal so knows exactly what we're trying to achieve and it’s empowering to have her leading us into Paris.
“I wasn't part of the team that performed in Tokyo. but I know the girls felt a large amount of disappointment not reaching the semi-final stages and I have sensed that disappointment having heard about their experiences.
“It's now just time to perform – that's all I'm trying to do. I've always been a big believer that you can only do what you can control and that’s the mentality I'll carry into the Olympics.”
Champion generations unite to celebrate a century of UQ hockey
With the UQ Hockey Club celebrating 100 years of men’s hockey at UQ, Division 1 women’s captain and Queensland and Australian representative Morgan Gallagher caught up with club legend and Hockey Australia Hall of Famer Don McWatters to reflect on the club’s proud history.
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