Rhubarb 2024

An interview with RUPERT SHIPPERLEY (Kendall, 2006-2011)

INTERVIEW

I ’ve had the incredible privilege of representing Great Britain and Wales over 160 times in the past 10 years.These experiences have profoundly shaped my life and created memories that will last a lifetime. My hockey journey began in 2006 as a Shell, on the Astroturf at Teddies. Fast forward to August 2024, and I’m walking off a hockey pitch in Paris, in front of family, friends and thousands of other spectators, having just competed in my second Olympic Games. The lead-up to the Paris Olympics was intense, with immense expectations on our team. Over the past two years, we had risen to become the second-ranked team in the world, Great Britain’s highest ranking ever.This achievement was earned through consistent performances and a rigorous training schedule. As part of a centralised programme based at Bisham Abbey, we committed to a full-time training regime,

which included four to five hockey sessions and three gym sessions each week.

At 31, I was no longer one of the youngest athletes and my body felt it. In March 2024, just four months before Olympic selection, I tore my hamstring from my tendon, requiring immediate surgery and a 12-week recovery period.With time running out to get fit for selection, my focus shifted to a 24/7 rehabilitation program, which included resisted pool running, Pilates, and what felt like countless lengths on the pitch. Fortunately, the hard work paid off, I managed to get back to playing and was honoured to be selected a few weeks later for my second Olympic Games. The selection process for any tournament is stressful, but for the Olympic Games, the largest multi-sport event in the world, it’s even more intense.The pressure is amplified by the fact that only a squad of 16 players is chosen, compared to the usual 18 in other tournaments. I vividly remember sitting on the edge of my bed, repeatedly refreshing my emails, eagerly awaiting the selection notification at 11am.When the email finally arrived at 11:02 am, those two minutes felt like an eternity!

42