TOTNES hockey star Ollie Payne is making no secret of his medalling aspirations for Team GB this summer at Paris 2024, writes Mohamed Hamza.

Payne enjoyed a meteoric rise in the international set-up, making his Olympic bow at Tokyo 2020 just months after first breaking into the GB ranks, but had to content himself with a fifth-place finish at his maiden Games.

Three years later, and with the men’s side yet to secure a medal in field hockey since Seoul 1988, the goalkeeper revealed that any Tokyo regrets are firmly in the rearview.

“It was quite a low feeling, getting knocked out of the last one," he said. "There’s all this ‘what could have been’ and that’s spurred me and a few of the lads on but we don’t have any hangover or bad feeling from that coming into this.

“This is a completely new cycle and a new coaching staff and a new team going forward so we’re really excited to get stuck into this one. I’m a better goalkeeper than I was three years ago and a more experienced person.

“I feel I can handle different situations in tournaments better now and hopefully I can contribute to a successful team.

“We want to put our best game out there; we want a medal and to get on that podium. That’s what our goals are."

Having already featured in his first Games, Payne is more familiar than most with the pressure and excitement that comes with competing in the pinnacle of his sport.

Team GB head into Paris with a fresh squad, as stalwarts Payne, Sam Ward, and captain David Ames star alongside seven Olympic debutants in the French capital.

Payne said: “Everyone’s really excited. I think we will get nervous at some point during the next week or so but it’s just understanding that that comes with caring about the event we’re playing at and the hard work we’re putting in.

“There are good teams in the competition and it’s not an absolute given that we'll medal so we need to play with the intensity we’ve been training and playing at for the last couple of years.

“Hopefully that falls into place, and we come out with a medal.”

Team GB open their campaign against Spain on 27 July, and can look forward to bouts with reigning world champions Germany and reigning European champions Netherlands in Group A.

Also on the horizon are France and South Africa, with the top four at the pool’s conclusion advancing to the quarterfinals.

The refurbished Stade Yves-du-Manoir – the only venue to feature at both the 2024 and 1924 Games – will host every game.

Great Britain invites you to Summer of Hockey - an experience like no other. Get involved now https://www.greatbritainhockey.co.uk/olympics/paris-2024/paris-2024-fixtures.