Penola’s Lucy Sharman has been selected in the 2024 Hockeyroos squad which could see her compete in the Olympic games in Paris later this year.


Sharman started her hockey career at the age of seven in the Naracoorte District Hockey Association, playing for the Dartmoor club.


After a few years she moved to join the Lower South East Hockey Association, playing in Mount Gambier for the Riddoch Strikers.


“I loved playing at both these hockey clubs and if it was not for them, I would not be where I am today,” she said.


Sharman moved to Adelaide and attended Pembroke School as a boarder.


While at secondary school she played for the Adelaide Hockey Club and remained there until moving to Perth.


“The Adelaide club has had such an important role to play in my development and I am so grateful for the friendship, help, support, guidance and coaching from all the coaches, parents, players and mentors,” she said.


“It is such a family club and I love being a part of it.”


Throughout her youth Sharman played in numerous State, SAPSASA and school teams from Under 12s to Under 21s.


She has also played two seasons of Australia’s premier domestic hockey league, HockeyOne.


Just recently she has been overseas in Santiago, Chile, playing at the junior Under 21s world cup.


After graduating school in 2021 she took a gap year and worked multiple jobs for the next few years.


Recently she joined Scotch College as their head of hockey, however due to her move to Perth she was not able to continue.


Sharman also started a Bachelor of Health Science degree in 2023 at UniSA, however she has put her studies on hold for the next few months while she focuses on her preparation for the Paris Olympics.


Sharman attributed her selection for the Hockeyroos squad as being “due to years of hard work and persistence”.


As far as training goes she trains six days a week, four on-pitch sessions and two gym sessions at Curtain University, the Perth hockey stadium and at the WA Institute of Sport.


“I will be training fairly full time up until the Olympics,” Sharman said.


“We go to India … for the FIH Pro League and will be there for 20 days.


“We then have a series in Perth against China throughout April and then head to Europe for more FIH Pro League, playing in Belgium and London.


“There will then be a few more weeks training in Perth until mid-July, when the team leaves for the Olympics.


“Playing for Australia as a Hockeyroo has been a lifelong goal of mine. Ever since my junior days I have been striving and working towards the best level of hockey I could play.”


Sharman said after school she trained full time at the SA Institute of Sport where she could focus completely on developing her hockey game and mindset.


“Each step of the way I had a goal to which I had to focus on with discipline, determination, and sacrifice,” she said.


“If goals were not quite achieved, I had to reset and go again.


“I cannot say exactly what the selectors were thinking but perhaps my determination, high work ethic, discipline, and improvement in my hockey game over the past few years were contributing factors,’ she said.


“I found out I was in the squad when I was in Chile playing in the junior world cup.


“It was mid tournament, we had a rest day and had just finished our round of pool games and were starting finals in three days. I was lying on my bed on the phone to my family when I got the email, casually checking the impressive list of names.


“When I opened up the file and saw my name I burst into tears and could not catch my breath. My roommate in Chile Amy Lawton came into the room after she had seen the email, and that’s when I realised what was actually happening.


“It was such a dream come true. There were definitely lots of emotions, but ultimately very excited and stoked to be a part of this group and pumped for the next stage and new goals.”


The team that will head to the Olympics will be announced later this year after the FIH Pro League rounds are completed.