Kookaburras veteran Matthew Swann retires from hockey ahead of Tokyo Olympics

Matthew Swann has been chasing an Olympic gold medal for 13 years. But his dream of winning one is over after calling time on his Kookaburras career.

Matthew Swann in action. Picture: AAP Image/Gary Day

Australian hockey star Matthew Swann has been hunting an Olympic gold medal for 13 years but will call off the chase on Wednesday because looming fatherhood means more.

Swann, 32, will retire from hockey after his final Kookaburra training session in Perth because his Dutch wife Roos is expecting their first child on August 8, closing ceremony day at the Tokyo Olympics.

Swann, who learnt the game playing with his three sisters in the backyard of their home in Mackay, agonised over the decision for months and explored every eventuality to combine the Games and the birth.

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Matthew Swann has called time on his career. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

“We looked at a variety of scenarios before it went from unlikely to impossible,’’ said Perth-based Swann, who will now focus on his career as a chartered accountant.

“This was a decision that was made over the course of 4-5 months,” said Swann.

“We were hoping that quarantining would change or maybe the situation and state of COVID globally wouldn’t be as dire as it is at the moment.

“It is sad and I will be cheering the boys on and thinking about being there, but at the end of

the day I have made a decision that I think is the right one for my family.’’

An Olympic bronze medallist, two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and dual World Cup winner, defender Swann made 204 appearances for his country.

“In ten years I’m going to look back and still believe I made the right decision to be there for Roos, even I’m not going to be there for my Kookas family which is sad but everyone has

been fully supportive.

Swann with his pregnant wife, Roos.

“We tried a lot of different options and thought about ways we could make it work but it was

too difficult.”

“I have been lucky to be good enough to play in such great teams and good enough to stay

in such a great team over a 13 year period.”

He had planned to retire after the 2020 Olympics but the year postponement complicated matters.

“I would much prefer for me to not be there and them win gold than me be there and them not win gold. I have already gone through the difficult stage of knowing I am not going to the Games.’’