By Hannah Blackwell
Wales’ Olympic medallist Sarah Jones has insisted some of her best memories in hockey came playing for Great Britain as she revealed she was retiring from the GB squad.
The decision marks the end of a six-year career at the sport’s highest level.
Jones, who fulfilled her dream of becoming the first Welsh outfield player to represent Great Britain since 2012, made her international debut at the 2018 Hockey Champions Trophy.
Over the course of her career, she earned an impressive 73 caps, competing in two Olympic Games as part of Team GB.
“I am beyond honoured to have had the privilege to represent Great Britain over the past six years and am so very grateful to everyone who has been a part of my journey,” said Jones.
“It’s created some of the best memories and biggest challenges I’ve ever faced, and I am proud of all that we have achieved as a team.
“Words will never fully be able to encapsulate it, but, for now, I just want to say thank you.”
Olympic Bronze medallist Sarah Jones has announced her decision to retire her GB shirt. Thank you, Sarah and good luck🫶https://t.co/HISygCivQx pic.twitter.com/E9eAoi7CUd
— Great Britain Hockey (@GBHockey) October 21, 2024
Her breakthrough came in 2019 when she played 15 matches in the Pro League tournament, followed by her selection for the 2020-21 Pro League.
Her standout performances led to her being selected for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where she made her Olympic debut. Jones played in every match throughout the tournament, playing a pivotal role in helping the team secure a bronze medal.
Following Tokyo, Jones remained a key figure within the GB set-up. Despite having to overcome several difficult injuries, she made a strong comeback to the Pro League in both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, including playing in front of a home crowd in London.
Jones’s final milestone for Team GB came in the 2024 Olympic Qualifiers, where she delivered a match-winning performance in the decisive game.
Two-time Olympian Sarah Jones has retired from Great Britain (GB) hockey duty but will continue playing for Wales.#BBCSport pic.twitter.com/1TDfc7POhs
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) October 21, 2024
She was named Player of the Match for her efforts, including scoring a crucial goal that guaranteed Great Britain’s place in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
In the summer of 2024, Jones competed in her second Olympic Games in Paris, where she again proved to be a vital part of the team. She helped Great Britain reach the quarter-finals and netted an important goal during the match against the USA.
While she is stepping down from international duty with Great Britain, Jones will continue her career with Wales, where she has already earned 115 caps. Her Welsh career includes competing in three Commonwealth Games—Glasgow 2014, Gold Coast 2018, and Birmingham 2022—and six EuroChampionships.
Any team would be lucky to have a player like @sarahjones8888. A bundle of energy on the pitch, a bundle of positivity off of it.
A great role model for @HockeyWales who I’m sure will continue to lead the way in a Wales shirt.
Congratulations on a fantastic @GBHockey career! 👏 https://t.co/unvKVxpeQS
— Emily Defroand (@EmilyDefroand) October 21, 2024
Great Britain’s Women’s head coach David Ralph said: “Sarah has made a valuable contribution to Great Britain hockey over the last two Olympic cycles, which included Sarah winning a bronze medal as part of the GB team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“Sarah’s journey to becoming an integral part of two GB Olympic teams should be an inspiration to all of us as it wasn’t until 2018 that Sarah won her first GB cap at the age of 28.
“Sarah’s dedication and hard work won her that opportunity and allowed her to grasp that opportunity and progress to becoming a hugely influential player for us on and off the pitch.
“Her performances in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were outstanding and massively contributed to our successful journey in that tournament. As an outstanding trainer, Sarah was also a valuable contributor to us in a training context, her drive and determination was evident every day and we will miss her character too.”
READ MORE
Sarah Jones Backs Hockey Wales Bid To Get More Young Players Into The Sport