AUSTRALIAN hockey champion Carly Williamson returns to Busselton with a gold medal after winning the Oceania Pacific Cup with her squad.
This was the third year Hockey Australia was represented at the cup by country teams and for the first time by under 21 representative teams.
Considered by Hockey Australia as a significant achievement to make the team, Williamson was also one of two Western Australia regional players to be chosen.
She was hand picked after impressing a scout at the Country Australian Championships in Queensland earlier this year.
Williamson said she didn't think she would make the team when the scout watching her at the games recommended she put her name forward.
“I had no idea where we would be going when I applied so when I was selected it was really exciting to hear Fiji was the destination,” Williamson said.
The cup was a tough gig with seven games played over eight days.
The finals were against New Zealand and Williamson said the opposing players were ex-Olympians and Commonwealth players.
“When we won it was amazing because it was a tough game against some great players,” she said.
At just 18-years-old Williamson was one of the youngest on the Hockey Australia Country under 21 squad.
However, this didn't intimidate her during training.
“The older players in my squad have so much knowledge and they use this to play skilfully so it’s great to learn from them,” she said.
Busselton Hockey Club played host to Williamson’s first games when she was five-years-old and said the sport runs in her family.
“I started playing young because my family have all played and really enjoy the sport,” Williamson said.
Next year will be busy for the gold medal winner as she keeps up her hockey training and begins her physical education teaching degree at Edith Cowan University in Bunbury.
“I’m looking forward to studying but also hope to make it to the games again next year,” Williamson said.