Anita Punt facts for kids
McLaren at the 2012 Summer Olympics
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 2 October 1987 Nelson, New Zealand |
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| Height | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 55 kg (121 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Capital | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005– | Capital | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2018 | New Zealand | 264 | (42) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Anita McLaren, born Anita Punt on October 2, 1987, is a famous field hockey player from New Zealand. She played for her country's national team, known as the Black Sticks Women, for many years, from 2009 to 2018. She even represented New Zealand at big events like the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Contents
About Anita McLaren
Anita McLaren was born in Nelson. Her parents are Nicolaas and Adele McLaren. Her father's family came from the Netherlands, so Anita has both New Zealand and Dutch citizenship.
Early Life and Training
Anita went to Waimea College in Richmond. When she was 18, she moved to Wellington. This move helped her focus on playing hockey with the Capital National Hockey League team.
Joining the Black Sticks
In June 2009, Anita was chosen to join the Black Sticks Women team. This happened after the team made some big changes. She played her very first game for New Zealand on June 19, 2009. This exciting match was against India and took place in her hometown of Nelson.
Achievements in Hockey
Anita helped New Zealand win a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. She scored the first goal in that important bronze medal match. She also won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Amazing Speed
Anita McLaren is known for being incredibly fast. Many people say she is one of the fastest female hockey players in the world. Her speed over ten metres was even among the top eight times for the men's Black Sticks team!
Track and Field Success
In February 2013, Anita tried something new. She entered a big track meet in Christchurch as a special guest. She won the 100-metre race in 12.61 seconds. This was a great achievement, as she beat many experienced New Zealand track athletes. Later, she won both the 100 metres and 200 metres at another event in Hamilton.
Life Outside Hockey
As of August 2012, Anita lived on the North Shore of Auckland. She used to work in a shop. Later, she started studying to become a veterinary nurse, which means helping animals.
Family Life
In March 2016, Anita married Scott McLaren. Scott is also an athlete, known for competing in decathlon events.
Retirement and New Role
Anita McLaren decided to stop playing international hockey in October 2018. After her retirement, she took on a new role. She became the head of the sports department at King's College in Auckland.
