Name: Ashley Jackson
Event: Hockey
Date of Birth: 27/8/1987 (24)
Career Highlight: Winning the European Championships in 2009
Did you know? He is carrying the Olympic torch through Gravesend today.
The Great Britain men’s hockey team is currently ranked fourth in the world and have high hopes for the Olympics. Dubbed the ‘Ronaldo of hockey’ by his captain, Jackson is a key part of this potential success.
He is a risk taker: his own coach spoke of the team’s jokes to Jackson about how he “runs forward so quick that he doesn’t run back quite so quick”. However, this fits into the high risk strategy the team is employing at the Olympics- the normally cautious approach has been replaced with a team driven to play the attack. This new tactic didn’t pay off in Beijing where the team missed out on medalling but has proven successful in more recent games.
He is also remarkable for his tenacity, this is not an attacker with only one trick up his sleeve. He can fit in neatly anywhere on the forward line as well as midfield. His goal scoring average is impressive, in the 122 international championships he has played in he has scored 65. He can find the net from almost impossible angles on both his reverse and forehand as well as being instrumental in short corners as a striker.
Despite his young age, Jackson has participated in three European championships, two world cups and one Olympic games in Beijing. His efforts in the European Championships in 2009 earned him the title of World Young Player of the Year the same year. It was his performance that has been credited in inspiring the team to the title.
Britain last won in an incredibly exciting encounter in Seoul in 1998 against the Germans. Sean Kerly was instrumental then, leaving large Astros to fill, can Jackson step up and be the deciding factor in London?