Local Olympic medalist says she is “Over the Moon”

Olympic hockey player Shona McCallin says she is “over the moon” after winning a bronze medal at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Shona, from Dry Doddington, was part of the team that came back from 3-2 down to beat India 4-3 and secure the bronze medal.

The former KGGS student told Lincolnshire Live what it was like in Tokyo and how it feels to get the Olympics medal.

“We arrived in the village the first day it opened and the left the day it closed, so I think we were there for the longest,” she said.

“I’m over the moon with the bronze medal. We wanted to go into the tournament and be proud of how we played and showcase what we could do on the world stage. I think we really did do that.”

McCallin was also part of the team that won gold in Rio 2016, but said the bronze was by no means disappointing.

“I’ve been asked quite a lot about the gold and how it felt compared to the bronze. For me, the bronze certainly matches if not overtakes the gold just because of what an achievement it is and what we’ve all been through,” she said.

“I spoke to friends and family throughout the games. I was off social media, so I didn’t see all the things that were going on there, but I was getting constant messages of support from my friends and family.”

Between medals, she has suffered from concussion, having been hit on the head with a hockey ball.

Shona started playing hockey in Newark at a young age, saying: “I first started playing at Newark Hockey Club when I was about 6 or 7. It was a way for me to release some energy.

“I stuck with it at Newark for the next 7 or 8 years and eventually got into the first team and then went to play for Beeston in Nottingham,” she added.

She also had a spell with Lincoln City ladies FC.

“I’ll take a bit of time to relax, calm down and catch up on sleep to let my body recover. Then I’ll be based in Holland to play my domestic hockey for next season.”

After a short break, Shona and the rest of Team GB’s hockey team will be looking ahead to the next Olympic Games.

She said: “Everyone will have a bit of a break internationally, but we’ll come together before the end of the year to look toward Paris 2024.

“I’m really looking forward to it.”