We sat down with Los Angeles 1984 and Barcelona 1992 Hockey Olympian and now HPSNZ’s Head of Performance Life Coaching, Christine Arthur, to share her story.
HPSNZ
Tell us about your Olympic experiences.
Christine
My first Olympics was an exciting adventure. I was fresh out of school, from a small rural town, new to the team and hadn’t travelled further than Australia.
The size and scale, range of athletes, and hype of the Games meant it felt like an enormous carnival. Everything was provided, there were bands, theatres, and shops in the Village which we could just walk into without the public. We got to go to Disneyland on VIP passes – with no queues! Americans were real fans. We felt like celebrities, with people lined up for autographs and VIP treatment everywhere we went.
The Games themselves were really intense and exciting and the amount of pressure on the team created different team dynamics. We didn’t get the results we expected and I’m afraid to say our performances deteriorated over the tournament when we started to pull apart.
I absorbed every experience I could and went to a huge number of different events to cheer on New Zealand. Watching other New Zealand athletes perform was very motivating. Overall I had a fantastic time.
The second Olympics was in Barcelona and was a totally different experience for me. I knew what to expect so I shut out all the distractions and focused on hockey. Unfortunately the team results were the same as in Los Angeles and again the unity of the team was tested. I hardly left the Village and certainly didn’t embrace the Olympic experience that time. It was one of the worst experiences representing New Zealand as I felt we had failed.
HPSNZ
Of all the experiences, what was the most memorable one?
Christine
It was definitely from my first Olympics. Walking around the track behind the flag at the Opening Ceremony was an incredibly proud moment. And the dining hall was something I’ll never forget. The size and the reality that Olympians come in all shapes and sizes, and that you can sit next to some of the greatest names in world sport.
HPSNZ
Given what you know now, what, if anything would you have done differently in your Olympic campaign?
Christine
I think we focused so much on outcome and forgot to stay strong together. I would reset the success criteria so it is dependent on what we can put together rather than what the opposition brings.
HPSNZ
How different do you think the Olympic experience is today from when you competed?
Christine
The experience then is worlds apart. 1984 was the first time a women’s hockey team competed at an Olympics so it was a new experience for everyone. We had very little support and resource and travelled with only two coaches, an S&C and a team physio. We had a one off session with a psychologist before we left and, compared with today, there was no one helping with transitions going into the Games. I was from a small Taranaki town and the local community raised money to help me during my build up to the Games.
In 1992, I was only one of two players in the team who had been to Los Angeles, so again it was pretty much a team of newbies.
HPSNZ
How does your experience as an Olympic athlete contribute and help you in your current role with HPSNZ?
Christine
I understand the drive to be an Olympian and it means I can help athletes strive to make it possible. I also know the pressure and feelings of failure if your identity is strongly linked to performance outcomes. Being an Olympian gives you credibility with athletes, but you also need to remember every individual is different and their journey is unique.
HPSNZ
If you were to give a current Olympic athlete one piece of advice for their Paris 2024 campaign, what would it be?
Christine
Being an Olympian is a privilege that not many people experience. So, embrace every opportunity. Stay focused on what you can control and ensure the team you are with are honest, stay tight and united to create the best performance possible. Stick to routines and processes you have used before and let the result take care of itself.
