How triathlon move helped Natalie Seymour beat Olympic blues

Seymour is younger than many of the current international hockey squad but says she has no regrets over giving it up.

“It was a difficult time [at the Olympics] because it wasn’t the experience I wanted,” she explained. “Confusing or rollercoaster is a really good way to describe it.

“At the time, I didn’t really know what to think or feel.

“Prior to the tournament, I already knew the position I was in. I had a really important role for the squad, and it was about trying to focus on that really.

“There’s no doubt, if you’d asked me much closer to selection, I’d want to be playing at London 2012.

“I could wish things had been different but I look at everything that’s happened since – I’m in a great position, and really enjoying what I’m doing.”

Her Olympic experience could have been transformed when captain Kate Walsh broke her jaw in the opening game of the tournament, but the defender was not called on.

“When Kate got her injury, the biggest concern for me was whether she was OK,” Seymour said.

“While you’d love to play, there’s no part of me that would wish anyone else to have their Olympics ended in such a horrible way.