Jamie Dwyer (Photo: © Daniel Carson)
Olympic Gold medallist, world champion and five times FIH Player of the Year Jamie Dwyer speaks to FIH.CH [International Hockey Federation News Channel] about his experiences in the Hero Hockey India League, his love of the Hockey 5s format and looks ahead to the Kookaburras biggest tournament of the year, the Rabobank Hockey World League Semi Final in Rotterdam.
FIH.CH: Hi Jamie, thanks for talking to us! You have been on something of an adventure since winning Bronze at the London 2012 Olympics. It must have been quite an experience playing in the Hero Hockey India League. How was it for you?
JAMIE DWYER: “The HHIL was a great event. It was really well run and it had lots of interest from hockey lovers all around the world. The HHIL was a huge step for the growth of hockey in the future. It was an awesome experience and it was great to be a part of something like that.”
FIH.CH: You were recently involved in the Hockey 5s experiment which took place in Hong Kong. The reports coming back seemed very positive (to learn more, click here). What was your take on it?
JD: “The Hockey 5s was a great experience. I was curious to see how it would go but after playing a few games and watching a few games I honestly believe that it should be introduced by the FIH as another format to our sport. It’s fun to play with lots of free flowing hockey and loads of goals. The spectators love it and in my opinion it would be a lot easier to televise.”
FIH.CH: Looking ahead to June, the Kookaburras will be competing in the Rabobank Hockey World League Semi Finals in Rotterdam, a tournament which you must be greatly looking forward to! How are preparations coming along for that World Cup qualifying event, both personally and with the team?
JD: “This is our biggest tournament for the year so we are really looking forward to it. Preparations are going well. We have a group of players playing overseas at the moment and the rest are in Perth training for this tournament. I’m looking forward to playing some international hockey again. Rotterdam is one of the best hockey stadiums in the world and I’ve got some great memories from there and I can’t wait to get back there.”
FIH.CH: Finally, how many more years will we get to see the great Jamie Dwyer in action? Not planning on quitting any time soon, are you?!
JD: “No, no plans on quitting yet! My body feels good, I’m mentally good and I still feel I can perform to the same standard that I have done over the last three years, which is great.”
Jamie Dwyer – Fact File
Achievements with the Kookaburras
Olympic Games
Gold 2004 Athens
Bronze 2008 Beijing
Bronze 2012 London
World Cup
Gold 2010 New Delhi
Silver 2006 Mönchengladbach
Silver 2002 Kuala Lumpur
Champions Trophy
Gold 2012 Melbourne
Gold 2011 Auckland
Gold 2010 Mönchengladbach
Gold 2009 Melbourne
Gold 2008 Rotterdam
Gold 2005 Chennai
Silver 2007 Kuala Lumpur
Silver 2003 Amstelveen
Commonwealth Games
Gold 2010 Delhi
Gold 2006 Melbourne
Gold 2002 Melbourne
Personal Achievements
Caps: 291
Goals: 185
FIH Player of the Year: 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2011
FIH Junior Player of the Year: 2002
Australian Player of the Year: 2009
Queensland Academy of Sport Athlete of the Year: 2010
Player of the Tournament: 2006 World Cup (Germany, Moenchengladbach)
Player of the Tournament: 2008 Champions Trophy (Holland, Rotterdam)
Player of the Tournament: 2010 Champions Trophy (Germany, Moenchgladbach)
Overseas club achievements
Dutch National Championship: Season 2009/10 (Hockey Club Bloemendaal)
Season 2008/09 (Hockey club Bloemendaal)
Season 2005/06 (Hockey club Bloemendaal)
Euro Hockey League Champion: Season: 2008/09 (Hockey club Bloemendaal)
(Jamie also played in national hockey competitions in Spain (2006/07 Royal Club de Polo, Barcelona) and India (Maratha Warriors 2007 / Jaypee Punjab Warriors 2013).
Source: FIH.CH
