Five WAIS Athletes Selected for London

Western Australia has had five athletes officially selected for the Hockeyroos squad for the 2012 London Olympic Games after the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) today ratified their selection in Perth.

The Hockeyroos’ squad of 16 will include WA athletes Kobie McGurk, Ashleigh Nelson, Jayde Taylor, Fiona Boyce and Hope Munro.

Both McGurk and Munro competed for Australia in Beijing four years ago, whilst Nelson, Taylor and Boyce will all make their Olympic debut for the Hockeyroos in London.

Hockeyroos coach Adam Commens was upbeat about Australia’s prospects for London.

“It is a great time for the future of the Hockeyroos,” head coach Adam Commens said.

“There was a lot of competition within the group of 27 across the attack, midfield and defence and it was a difficult process to pick the final squad, but I am very happy with the team we selected.

“We still have a lot of improvements and a lot of growth in us, but I am confident the 16 girls chosen for the London Olympics are the best which augurs well for the future.”

Australia faces three higher-ranked teams in Pool B of the Olympic draw – Argentina (No.2), Germany (No.3) and New Zealand (No.6). But Commens was careful not to discount number 12 ranked South Africa either who drew with world number one the Netherlands at the London Cup.

“Our goal is to make it into the semis and from there the podium is realistic. Once there we can be aiming for gold, but we are under no illusions as to how difficult it will be to get through the pool. It really is ‘the pool of death’.

“All of the teams ranked above us will be imagining they can beat us. For us to reach the semi-final will be a great achievement.”

The five athletes selected has taken WA’s numbers for London up to 24.

Full biographies on McGurk, Nelson, Taylor, Boyce and Munro can be found on the AOC’s official website – http://london2012.olympics.com.au/athlete-search?sport=AF749369-5056-B04A-5387A770BB1326CF