Hey everyone! Big news in the world of hockey today. Shona McCallin, the Olympic champion, has decided to hang up her hockey stick and retire from international competition. What a career she’s had! She’s won gold medals at the Olympics, European Championships, and Commonwealth Games. Talk about a superstar!
Shona made her Olympic debut at the Rio 2016 Games, and she was also part of the winning team at the 2015 European Championships in London. But that’s not all, folks. She’s one of the few players who have won back-to-back Olympic hockey medals. She even won a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Incredible!
After a lot of thinking and 122 caps, Shona has decided that now is the right time to step away from international competition. It’s a tough decision, but she knows it’s the right one. She’s had an amazing 10-year journey with GB and England, and she’s achieved so much. Winning those gold medals and that bronze medal in Tokyo must have been a dream come true.
But lately, Shona has realized that she doesn’t have the same mental and physical energy required for the centralised program anymore. And you know what? That’s totally okay. She’s not the kind of person who can give something only 80% or 90%. She’s all or nothing, and she’s decided it’s time to pass the number 24 shirt to someone new.
Shona started playing hockey when she was just six years old, and she’s been unstoppable ever since. She’s been a part of England Hockey’s U16, U18, and U21 teams, and she even captained the U21 team to victory in the Junior World Cup. Talk about talent!
But don’t worry, Shona isn’t saying goodbye to hockey completely. She’ll still be playing and coaching with Reading Hockey Club, and she’s also putting her efforts into her new supplement business, The Ten Per Cent Club. She’s got big plans for the future, and we can’t wait to see what she does next.
As Shona takes this new chapter in her life, she wants to wish the Great Britain squad all the best as they work towards their Paris Qualification journey. She knows they’re going to do amazing!
Shona’s retirement is a big loss for England and Great Britain Hockey, but her legacy will live on. She’s made a huge contribution to the sport, and her tenacity, game intellect, and individual skills have been truly exceptional. We’re going to miss her, but we know she’s going to continue inspiring future generations and succeeding in whatever she pursues. Good luck, Shona!