Kate Hollywood
Encyclopedia
Kate Hollywood is an Australian field hockey
player who has represented the Australian international team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and has also won two Commonwealth Games
gold medals, in 2006
and 2010
. Domestically, Hollywood plays for the New South Wales Arrows in the Australian Hockey League
(AHL). Known for her "speed, vision, and accuracy in passing", Hollywood plays in the midfield and, having been a member of the Australian national team since 2005, the 25-year-old is one of the side's veterans, with over 150 international caps.
. From a hockey-playing family (her father played first-grade hockey in Sydney), she began playing hockey at four years of age for her local team, Sutherland Hockey Club.
in 2005, Hollywood was selected to play for the Australian team for their April 2005 tour of the United States. As an 18-year-old, Hollywood made her international debut on the tour against the Americans and, after an impressive debut, she became a constant fixture in the Australian team. In July Hollywood was selected to play for the Australian under-21 team at the Junior World Cup. Only months after her senior debut, Hollywood played at the 2005 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy where she won a silver medal, losing the final in a penalty shootout to the Netherlands
.
The next year, Hollywood played for Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
. Australia won the gold medal, defeating India
1–0 in the final, which Hollywood described as the "highlight of her career" and her "greatest moment". Hollywood also played at the 2006 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy, but the Australians couldn't repeat their performance of the previous year and didn't feature in the medals. Despite being a regular fixture in the Australian team for the majority of the year, Hollywood was not selected to the Australian squad for the 2006 World Cup
.
2007 saw Hollywood suffer her first injury setback, as she was sidelined for four months to recover from surgery due to compartment syndrome
. Hollywood, however, made her way back into the Australian team in time for the 2007 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy
where Australia lost the third place play off to Germany
.
Prior to the 2008 Olympics, Hollywood competed at the 2008 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy
, but Australia finished a distant fifth. Hollywood then proceeded to complete a "childhood dream" by playing at her first Olympic Games
. Although there was much specualtion in the lead-up that Australia was a genuine gold medal contender, the Australians finished third in their group and did not progess to the semi finals. Australia ended up finishing a disappointing fifth overall.
The next year saw Hollywood, who had become on the national team's senior players due to multiple retirements after the Olympics, play at the 2009 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy
. Hollywood played her 100th match at the tournament, as the Australians won the silver medal, losing to Argentina in a penalty shootout in the final, the second time Hollywood had lost in a penalty shootout at the Champions Trophy final.
Australia failed to qualify for the Champions Trophy in 2010, so the first major tournament that Hollywood was scheduled to play was the World Cup
. After breaking her hand in June, Hollywood raced to become fit in time for the World Cup, which began in late August. Hollywood did recover in time and, in what was becoming a pattern for the Australian team at major tournaments, they again finished fifth after failing to make the semi finals. Hollywood played at her second Commonwealth Games
later in the year, one of only five players who represented Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. She scored one goal for the tournament as the Australians won the gold medal, Hollywood's second Commonwealth Games gold, after winning the final against New Zealand in a penalty shootout.
Despite winning the Commonwealth Games in 2010, the Australian team fell to fifth in the world rankings. As a result, a new coach, Adam Commens
, was hired. He began his time in charge of the Hockeyroos by dropping five experienced players, Hollywood included, from the Australian national squad, citing "emphasis on youth". Hollywood was subsequently moved into the development squad to "develop on areas [she] needs to work on", with Commens declaring that this was not the end of Hollywood's career. As she had changed from a midfielder to a defender in the Australian off-season, Hollywood said that it "wasn't a major shock", but that she has enjoyed the move and is determined to win her way back into the Australian side for the 2012 Olympics. During the year, Hollywood finished her bachelor's degree in physical education, played professionally for Dutch side, Rotterdam
, and also played in New Zealand. In October, Hollywood was rewarded with a call-up to the national team for a series against China. Commens said that she had "done well for Australia A during various matches throughout the year" and that "with some strong performances in this series against China she could challenge for a spot in the [Olympic] squad".
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
player who has represented the Australian international team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and has also won two Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
gold medals, in 2006
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
and 2010
2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
. Domestically, Hollywood plays for the New South Wales Arrows in the Australian Hockey League
Australian Hockey League
The Australian Hockey League is Australia’s premier national domestic field hockey competition. Despite its non-professional nature, AHL is considered one of the strongest and most competitive national field hockey leagues in the world. The AHL consists of both men's and women's competition...
(AHL). Known for her "speed, vision, and accuracy in passing", Hollywood plays in the midfield and, having been a member of the Australian national team since 2005, the 25-year-old is one of the side's veterans, with over 150 international caps.
Early life
Born to Carolyn and Bob Hollywood on 28 May 1986, Hollywood is originally from Gymea BayGymea Bay, New South Wales
Gymea Bay is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Gymea Bay is located 27 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Sutherland Shire...
. From a hockey-playing family (her father played first-grade hockey in Sydney), she began playing hockey at four years of age for her local team, Sutherland Hockey Club.
Career
After her debut season with the NSW Arrows in the Australian Hockey LeagueAustralian Hockey League
The Australian Hockey League is Australia’s premier national domestic field hockey competition. Despite its non-professional nature, AHL is considered one of the strongest and most competitive national field hockey leagues in the world. The AHL consists of both men's and women's competition...
in 2005, Hollywood was selected to play for the Australian team for their April 2005 tour of the United States. As an 18-year-old, Hollywood made her international debut on the tour against the Americans and, after an impressive debut, she became a constant fixture in the Australian team. In July Hollywood was selected to play for the Australian under-21 team at the Junior World Cup. Only months after her senior debut, Hollywood played at the 2005 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy where she won a silver medal, losing the final in a penalty shootout to the Netherlands
Netherlands women's national field hockey team
The Netherlands' national women's field hockey team is currently number two on the FIH world rankings and they are the 2006 world champions and reigning Olympic champions...
.
The next year, Hollywood played for Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
. Australia won the gold medal, defeating India
India women's national field hockey team
The Indian women's national field hockey team is the national women's team representing field hockey in India. Captain Suraj Lata Devi led the team to the Gold for three consecutive years: during the 2002 Commonwealth Games , the 2003 Afro-Asian Games, and the 2004 Hockey Asia Cup...
1–0 in the final, which Hollywood described as the "highlight of her career" and her "greatest moment". Hollywood also played at the 2006 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy, but the Australians couldn't repeat their performance of the previous year and didn't feature in the medals. Despite being a regular fixture in the Australian team for the majority of the year, Hollywood was not selected to the Australian squad for the 2006 World Cup
2010 Women's Hockey World Cup
The 2010 Women's Hockey World Cup was the twelfth tournament of the Women's Hockey World Cup. It was being held from August 29 to September 11, 2010 in Rosario, Argentina. The country was awarded the rights on March 23, 2007. Argentina won the tournament after beating Netherlands 3–1 in the final...
.
2007 saw Hollywood suffer her first injury setback, as she was sidelined for four months to recover from surgery due to compartment syndrome
Compartment syndrome
Compartment syndrome is a limb threatening and life threatening condition, defined as the compression of nerves, blood vessels, and muscle inside a closed space within the body . This leads to tissue death from lack of oxygenation due to the blood vessels being compressed by the raised pressure...
. Hollywood, however, made her way back into the Australian team in time for the 2007 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy
2007 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy
The Women's Champions Trophy is an annual field hockey tournament for the world's leading national women's teams. The 2007 edition of the tournament was held in Quilmes, Argentina from January 13 to January 21, 2007....
where Australia lost the third place play off to Germany
Germany women's national field hockey team
The Germany women's national field hockey team represents the unified Germany since 1991 in the international field hockey competitions. The team, coached for three years by Markus Weise , made history when it surprisingly won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, by...
.
Prior to the 2008 Olympics, Hollywood competed at the 2008 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy
2008 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy
The 2008 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy is the 16th edition of the Hockey Champions Trophy for women. It was held from May 17 to May 25, 2008 in Mönchengladbach, Germany.-Teams:Teams as follow:...
, but Australia finished a distant fifth. Hollywood then proceeded to complete a "childhood dream" by playing at her first Olympic Games
Field hockey at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament
The women's field hockey tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held over a thirteen day period beginning on August 10, and culminating with the medal finals on August 22. All games were played at the hockey field constructed on the Olympic Green...
. Although there was much specualtion in the lead-up that Australia was a genuine gold medal contender, the Australians finished third in their group and did not progess to the semi finals. Australia ended up finishing a disappointing fifth overall.
The next year saw Hollywood, who had become on the national team's senior players due to multiple retirements after the Olympics, play at the 2009 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy
2009 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy
The 2009 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy was the 17th edition of the Hockey Champions Trophy for women. It was held from 11 July to 19 July 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The tournament was won by Argentina who defeated Australia 4–3 in the final on penalty strokes after a 0–0 draw...
. Hollywood played her 100th match at the tournament, as the Australians won the silver medal, losing to Argentina in a penalty shootout in the final, the second time Hollywood had lost in a penalty shootout at the Champions Trophy final.
Australia failed to qualify for the Champions Trophy in 2010, so the first major tournament that Hollywood was scheduled to play was the World Cup
2010 Women's Hockey World Cup
The 2010 Women's Hockey World Cup was the twelfth tournament of the Women's Hockey World Cup. It was being held from August 29 to September 11, 2010 in Rosario, Argentina. The country was awarded the rights on March 23, 2007. Argentina won the tournament after beating Netherlands 3–1 in the final...
. After breaking her hand in June, Hollywood raced to become fit in time for the World Cup, which began in late August. Hollywood did recover in time and, in what was becoming a pattern for the Australian team at major tournaments, they again finished fifth after failing to make the semi finals. Hollywood played at her second Commonwealth Games
Hockey at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
The field hockey event for the 2010 Commonwealth Games was held at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium from 4 October to 14 October 2010.- Medalists :- Umpires :Twelve umpires for the men's event were appointed by the Commonwealth Games Federation.- Pool A :...
later in the year, one of only five players who represented Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. She scored one goal for the tournament as the Australians won the gold medal, Hollywood's second Commonwealth Games gold, after winning the final against New Zealand in a penalty shootout.
Despite winning the Commonwealth Games in 2010, the Australian team fell to fifth in the world rankings. As a result, a new coach, Adam Commens
Adam Commens
Adam David Commens is a former field hockey midfielder from Australia, who was a member of the team that won the bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney....
, was hired. He began his time in charge of the Hockeyroos by dropping five experienced players, Hollywood included, from the Australian national squad, citing "emphasis on youth". Hollywood was subsequently moved into the development squad to "develop on areas [she] needs to work on", with Commens declaring that this was not the end of Hollywood's career. As she had changed from a midfielder to a defender in the Australian off-season, Hollywood said that it "wasn't a major shock", but that she has enjoyed the move and is determined to win her way back into the Australian side for the 2012 Olympics. During the year, Hollywood finished her bachelor's degree in physical education, played professionally for Dutch side, Rotterdam
HC Rotterdam
HC Rotterdam is a Dutch field hockey club, which was founded on September 16, 1925. With a total number of 2,342 members it is the biggest hockeyclub in the Netherlands. The first teams compete on the highest level of the Dutch field hockey league, which is called "Hoofdklasse"...
, and also played in New Zealand. In October, Hollywood was rewarded with a call-up to the national team for a series against China. Commens said that she had "done well for Australia A during various matches throughout the year" and that "with some strong performances in this series against China she could challenge for a spot in the [Olympic] squad".