On 12th October 2021, I officially retired from International Hockey. I gained 122 International caps, winning European and Commonwealth medals, dedicating 9 years of my adult life to training and competing full time, plus the countless years as a youngster pursuing that goal.
As athletes you have to make sacrifices, and what you are doing is often selfish and can be very hard on not only you but the people around you. You dedicate so much of yourself to being the best, and with that your identity becomes wrapped up in that sport. This is something that makes saying those words 'I’m retiring' so difficult.
My main goal has always been to represent my country and go to an Olympics, so what now? Who am I if not 'Sarah, the hockey player?'
Firstly, I am hugely fortunate that I am making this decision for myself, so many athletes aren’t afforded the same luxury, whether it be through deselection from their sport, or a career ending injury. Being able to make this decision myself definitely helps the transition process and allows me to make own my decision. I have also known that my retirement was on the horizon for a while now, and the pandemic gave me the time to pause and really stop to think about what I might want to do after hockey, and what is important to me.
We are very lucky as an Olympic sport that we have support from the English Institute of Sport in the form of a 'Performance Lifestyle Advisor' who helps with everything that happens off the pitch.
That might be dealing with setbacks, career planning for the future, or understanding yourself, your identity and your values. With hockey we have an incredible advisor, Emma Mitchell. I’ve had the privilege of being supported by her throughout my career, with planning ahead and thinking about life after sport being something she’s encouraged and we’ve actively considered.
There is this notion that you have to be 100% focused on your sport and nothing else in order to succeed. Don’t get me wrong of course you have to be extremely dedicated and make sacrifices to be an elite athlete, but that doesn’t have to take up every waking minute.
Having other interests actually allows you to switch off from competing, stops the over thinking about training and performance, and gives you a mental break from the stressors of elite sport, which then only helps performance in the long run. Not only is it helpful for performance and mental wellbeing, but by having other interests outside of your sport, it helps you understand that you are more than just an athlete.
Our sports have taken up such a huge part of our lives, and you couldn't get to the top without it being that way, but they aren't 'all' of us. We have so many parts to our character and identity, and it’s so important that we find that out whilst we are still competing, in order to help the transition process out of sport when that time comes.
Through my work with Emma, I have taken time to explore my values, and what’s really important for me to feel fulfilled and purposeful. I have learnt that one of my core values is helping others, and I thrive when being part of a team. I enjoy helping others succeed.
I am hugely passionate about making sport inclusive for all and believe we need to be doing all we can to break down barriers to allow everyone the opportunity to succeed in sport and Life. In the famous words of Nelson Mandela, 'Sport has the power to change the world' and I truly believe that.
