Rechelle Hawkes facts for kids
Rechelle Margaret Hawkes AM (born on May 30, 1967) is a famous Australian former field hockey player. She was born in Albany, Western Australia. Rechelle was the captain of the Australian Women's Hockey Team, known as the Hockeyroos, for eight years.
She is one of only two Australian women to win three Olympic gold medals in three different Olympic Games. She won gold in Seoul 1988, Atlanta 1996, and Sydney 2000.
Rechelle Hawkes' Amazing Career
Rechelle Hawkes started playing for the national team in 1985. She played in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, where Australia finished fifth. In 1999, she reached a huge milestone by playing 250 games for her country. This is a lot of games for any athlete!
Olympic Achievements
Rechelle Hawkes is best known for her incredible success at the Olympic Games. She won three gold medals with the Hockeyroos.
- 1988 Seoul: Gold Medal
- 1996 Atlanta: Gold Medal
- 2000 Sydney: Gold Medal
At the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Rechelle had a very special role. She read the Athlete's Olympic Oath. This is a promise made by an athlete on behalf of all competitors, showing fair play and respect.
Other Big Wins
Besides the Olympics, Rechelle also won many other important tournaments.
- World Cup: She helped her team win the World Cup twice, in 1994 and 1998. They also won a silver medal in 1990.
- Commonwealth Games: Rechelle won a gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
- Champions Trophy: This is another major field hockey tournament. Rechelle and her team won the Champions Trophy five times! They won in 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, and 1999. They also earned two silver medals and one bronze medal in this competition.
Awards and Recognition
Rechelle Hawkes has received many awards for her contributions to Australian sport.
- In 1989, she received a Medal of the Order of Australia. This award recognizes Australians who have made a big difference in their community or to Australia.
- She received an Australian Sports Medal in 2000.
- In 2001, she was given a Centenary Medal.
- Also in 2001, she was named one of the "Best of the Best" by the Australian Institute of Sport.
- In 2002, Rechelle was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. This means she is recognized as one of Australia's greatest sports heroes.
- In 2018, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia. This was for her great service to hockey, especially as a captain of winning teams, and for being a role model and commentator.
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Women's Field Hockey | ||
Representing  Australia |
||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | 1988 Seoul | Team |
| Gold | 1996 Atlanta | Team |
| Gold | 2000 Sydney | Team |
| World Cup | ||
| Gold | 1994 Dublin | Team |
| Gold | 1998 Utrecht | Team |
| Silver | 1990 Sydney | Team |
| Commonwealth Games | ||
| Gold | 1998 Kuala Lumpur | Team |
| Champions Trophy | ||
| Gold | 1991 Berlin | Team |
| Gold | 1993 Amstelveen | Team |
| Gold | 1995 Mar del Plata | Team |
| Gold | 1997 Berlin | Team |
| Gold | 1999 Brisbane | Team |
| Silver | 1987 Amstelveen | Team |
| Silver | 1989 Frankfurt | Team |
| Bronze | 2000 Amstelveen | Team |
