All eyes on Rechelle

CHENNAI, MAY 3. When Rechelle Hawkes was chosen as the player to take the Olympic oath at the Sydney Olympiad last September, the moment signalled not only a new dawn of history but an iridescent vista to one of the Olympic disciplines - competitive hockey.

What added a measure of enchantment was the fact that the person named for the highest honour was a woman whose contribution to the ebb and flow of women's hockey in the region is remarkable.

After steering Australia to its third Olympic hockey triumph, Rechelle made another history on Wednesday with her nomination confirmed as the first athlete to the restructured Executive Board. From any standpoint, it was a signal move in the restructuring of the Federation Internationale de Hockey (FIH) in which the voice of the players' fraternity will be heard at the highest policy-making apparatus.

Not that the Athletes were unrepresented in the FIH before, but the panel, which included stars like Floris Bovelander of the Netherlands and Pargat Singh of India, played only an advisory role. It is expected that Rechelle, with so much international exposure, will explain the problems of the players more forcefully in the Executive Board.

Officials in the restructured FIH believe that Rechelle Hawke's position reinforces the FIH's commitment to listen to the athletes at the decision-making level. The FIH recognised the need for an athlete's input four years ago with the construction of the Athletes' Panel, comprising former international-level hockey players. Rechelle has a long history of involvement in hockey and related occupations. Starting at the age of six with her local club, Rechelle was first selected for the Australian team in 1985.

She had an outstanding career, and is now in the history books as the most successful female hockey player ever after winning her third Olympic Gold at the Sydney Games.

Whilst playing hockey she completed two university degrees, in Teaching Physical Education and Marketing, coached extensively and been a pro-active ambassador for hockey.

That Rechelle carries on her shoulders the hopes and aspirations of the hockey family goes without saying.

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