Maddie Hinch OBE is a double Olympic medallist and three-time World Goalkeeper of the Year, famed for her penalty‑shootout heroics as Great Britain and England’s hockey goalkeeper. While she now focuses on coaching at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, Somerset will always hold a special place in her heart

You’ve gone from ‘Rio heroics’ and Olympic gold to becoming one half of the first British married couple to coach together at an Olympic Games. When you look at that journey, which moments feel most surreal to you now?

Winning Olympic gold in Rio will probably always sit at the top of the list. Even now, 10 years on, it still feels strange to think that a girl from Somerset found herself standing on top of an Olympic podium. The shootout against the Netherlands is the moment everyone remembers, but for me the surreal part is often looking back at the entire journey and realising just how many people and experiences contributed to it.

What feels equally special now is returning to the Olympic environment as a coach. Sport has given me a second chapter that I never expected. Coaching alongside my husband Brendan and helping athletes pursue their own dreams has brought a completely different sense of fulfilment.

Somerset, King’s College Taunton and your early clubs are a long way from LA 2028. How did growing up and playing in the Westcountry shape the goalkeeper and the coach you’ve become?

Somerset gave me my foundations. Growing up in the Westcountry taught me the value of hard work, humility and community. I was incredibly fortunate to have teachers, coaches and family members who encouraged me to chase big ambitions while always staying grounded.

King’s College Taunton played a huge role in my development, not just as an athlete but as a person. I learned resilience, discipline and the importance of contributing to a team. The hockey community in Somerset was also incredibly supportive.

As a coach now, I try to recreate those environments. I know from my own experience that one good coach can completely change the direction of a young person’s life.

(Image: Maddie Hinch)

Congratulations on your recent wedding to Olympic hockey player Brendan Creed. As you both prepare to coach at the LA Olympics together, what do you want most out of the experience?

Thank you. Brendan and I are very similar in that we both care deeply about people. Of course, we are ambitious and competitive, but we also believe that athletes perform best when they feel trusted, supported and understood. We want to create environments where people can thrive, where they feel safe to make mistakes, learn and grow. High-performance sport can be demanding, but it should still be enjoyable and meaningful.

You’ve taken your coaching brand MH1 and coaching camps from the USA to South Africa and Zimbabwe. What does ‘sport for all’ look like in the way you and Brendan coach?

For us, sport for all means making opportunities accessible. Not every athlete has access to elite coaching, facilities or equipment, but everyone deserves the chance to experience the joy and confidence that sport can bring.

Through MH1 we work with hockey players of every age and ability. Some of our most rewarding experiences have been working in communities where opportunities are limited. You quickly realise that talent exists everywhere. Sometimes all people need is encouragement, belief and somebody willing to invest time in them.

How often do you return to Somerset to visit family and friends? And where are some of your favourite places in the county?

Somerset will always have a special place in my heart. I return whenever I can, often to run MH1 camps at King’s Taunton, and every visit reminds me just how fortunate I was to grow up here.

I love walking in the Quantocks and along the coastline near Minehead, particularly when I need to clear my head.

One of the things I appreciate most now is the pace of life. My work takes me all over the world, but Somerset has a calmness and warmth that always brings me back to where it all began..