Tasmania’s Maddi Brooks on track for Olympic debut due to injury replacement

Maddi Brooks’ parents arrived to France not knowing if their daughter would get onto the hockey field, but now that’s all changed after a late call up.

Tasmanian Maddi Brooks 19 has been named an injury replacement player for the Paris 2024 Olympic women's hockey team. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

While the eyes of sports fans were glued to Eddie Ockenden creating history as Tasmania’s first Olympic Games flag bearer, another historic moment was unfolding for Hockeyroo Maddi Brooks behind the scenes.

The Hockeyroos travelling reserve player was withdrawn from the Opening Ceremony, while fellow squad members Hatti Shand and Aleisha Power attended, after sensationally earning a call-up for their opening clash against South Africa.

Brooks, 32 international caps, will replace injured striker Alice Arnott and become the first Tasmanian Hockeyroo to appear at an Olympic Games since Kim Walker at Beijing 2008.

It caps a remarkable rise for the nineteen-year-old, who debuted for the Hockeyroos in March 2023 in Hobart but impressed with a goal in Australia’s 4-1 defeat of Japan in their final pre-Olympic practice match in Paris.

Brooks’ parents, Alistair and Susan, agonised over whether to travel to Paris and scrutinised Airbnb cancellation policies for weeks, before ultimately flying out in recent days.

Their brave decision has now paid off handsomely, with them able to be on hand to see Brooks take to the field as a bona fide Olympian.

“As her parents, we were hopeful but also recognise that Maddi is still a teenager and our energy was on supporting Maddi through this experience and cheering the Hockeyroos on to success,” Alistair said from Zurich on Saturday afternoon.

“We are extremely excited now as we board a train to Paris and so proud of her for staying focused on the team objectives and supporting her teammates.

“Being in the stadium when she takes the field in an Olympic Games will no doubt be a moment that we will all never forget and we just hope she soaks it all up and enjoys the experience, taking it in her usual stride.”

Maddi Brooks on right with twin sister Taylor who is in the under 21 Australian hockey team. Maddi Brooks at home in Hobart. Tasmanian Maddi Brooks 19 has been named in the Paris 2024 Olympic women's hockey team. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Hockey fans may also draw comparisons from Brooks to that of Josh Beltz being elevated for game two at Tokyo 2021, before going on to earn a silver medal and be one of the Kookaburras best performers.

Brooks’ twin sister Taylor, who captains OHA in the Premier League women’s competition, says Maddi has been soaking up the Olympic village atmosphere and experience so far and this is the icing on top.

“It’s not every day that you get to walk past or chat to some of your sporting idols or international royalty like Princess Mary,” Taylor said from Hobart.

“Maddi was just so happy to get the opportunity to be a travelling reserve but now she’s actually go a game it’s a bit surreal.”

“It’s also great for Tassie hockey as we haven’t had any women’s hockey representatives at an Olympics for quite a long time and she’s done it based from Hobart, whenever her commitments allow.”

The Hockeyroos face South Africa at 8:45pm on Sunday night.

Originally published as Tasmania’s Maddi Brooks on track for Olympic debut due to injury replacement