By Megan Armitage

Miriam Pritchard is ready to stand on the shoulders of giants as she gears up for her first Olympic Games.

The 25-year-old goalkeeper from Oxford made her first foray onto the international scene in 2017 for England before stepping up to the Great Britain squad in 2022.

Field hockey first appeared on the Olympic programme in 1908 but it wasn't until the 1980 Moscow Games that women were allowed to play.

Pritchard revealed that an inspiring shirt presentation for her first Olympics reflected on 44 years of history on the Olympic hockey pitch for women, and noted how Team GB are ready to continue the legacy at Paris 2024.

"It's been brilliant so far, getting some time before the Games start to explore and see the Olympic rings," she said.

"It was pretty special stepping onto the pitch for the first time as it's the only building being used that was also used for the 1924 Olympics.

"When we had our shirt presentation the other week, they put up a photo of the first women that competed for Team GB in hockey at the Olympic Games and it was fantastic to see that history of the women who have come before us and play on a pitch that has so much history.

"Part of our values and story of a team is around recognising the amazing women who have come before us."

Pritchard first picked up a hockey stick as a child and was inspired by two-time Olympic medallist and goalkeeping extraordinaire Maddie Hinch to don the goalkeeper gloves.

Hinch is just one of the incredible women who paved the way for Pritchard to make her Olympic debut and the Hampstead and Westminster player is now ready to make her own history in Paris.

"I remember when I was little, I remember watching a four ball drill with Maddie on YouTube and I had that on repeat," she added.

"I used to put my goalie gloves on in the living room with a hockey ball and practicing my glove saves which I don't think my mum was very pleased with, but it didn't stop me.

"Maddie put goal keeping on the map and now I want to stand on her shoulders and have my own Olympic experience."

Team GB women play their first pool game against Spain on Sunday 28th August before tackling Australia, Argentina, United States and South Africa.

Pritchard confessed that her secret weapon to relaxing away from the hockey pitch is tucking a sketchbook under her arm and has continued to develop her love for illustration in a city that has inspired some of the greatest works of art in the world.

"I grew up surrounded my art and once I realised I could do illustrations at Uni I was sold and that was the first time I found a good balance between my art and illustration.

"The two really go hand in hand.

"Throughout my hockey career, it's been nice to have my drawing and during Olympic qualifiers in Valencia, in our time off I would go off somewhere and take my sketchbook and just unwind from the stress.

"It's nice to have that to still my mind and I'll definitely be sketching in Paris."

 Great Britain invites you to Summer of Hockey - an experience like no other. Get involved now https://www.greatbritainhockey.co.uk/olympics/paris-2024/paris-2024-fixtures