Keeper Lynch ends record hockey career
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After 233 Tests over 15 years, Hockeyroos goalkeeper Rachael Lynch has announced her international hockey retirement.
Rachael Lynch has called time on her decorated international career as Australia’s most-capped hockey goalkeeper.
The 35-year-old shot-stopper made 233 appearances for the Hockeyroos over a span of 15 years and was named 2019 world goalkeeper of the year.
The latter part of her career brought plenty of heartache though, as Lynch had to win a five-month legal challenge along with ex-skipper Georgina Morgan against Hockey Australia after they were controversially demoted in 2020.
She was back for last year’s Tokyo Olympics, only for that campaign under new coach Katrina Powell to end in a 1-0 quarter-final upset by Japan after they swept through their pool stage scoring 13 goals and conceding only one.
“It has been a luxury having this time since the end of the Tokyo Olympics to the start of this year to be able to see where I am at, spend some time working and seeing family and friends and talking to people,” said Lynch.
“This has all definitely helped and allowed me to make the decision that I have.
“I feel pretty content. As much as I feel I’ve still got more to give the sport, I fully respect the focus being on the group for Paris 2024 and feel I can still contribute to the sport in other ways.”
Lynch retires as a two-time Olympian who won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and 2014 and a silver in 2018 and a silver medal in 2014 at one of three World Cups she played, along with six Champions Trophy titles.
“As a goalkeeper, the fact Rach has played so many games shows her quality over a long period of time,” said Powell.
“It’s unusual for goalkeepers to play that many games at the highest level, so her resilience and the calibre of the player she has been highlights that, coupled with the international accolades she has achieved in that time.
“She has reached amazing heights in her career, not just in terms of representing Australia but being respected worldwide.”
Lynch’s retirement follows those of fellow Hockeyroos veterans Edwina Bone, Emily Chalker and Ashlee Wells earlier this month.
Source: AAP