Hockeyroos continue 2024 paris Olympic Games unbeaten run with 3-0 win over US

Renee Taylor has faced a tougher journey than most Aussie Olympians, but it may have all been worth it for her after starring in Australia’s latest impressive victory in Paris.

Australia's midfielder #21 Renee Taylor celebrates scoring her team's first goal in the women's pool B field hockey match between Australia and the USA during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium in Colombes on July 31, 2024. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP)

Three years ago the hips that powered Renee Taylor’s stunning first-quarter strike in Australia’s third consecutive Paris win were bone-sawed in three places and put back together again.

Budding Brisbane-raised lawyer Taylor had no idea the surgery would result in a hellish three-year odyssey that included osteitis pubis and shin bone stress.

At 27, these Olympics will be her last given the physical toll, with Taylor only three subjects from finishing that law degree before reuniting with her partner and partner’s two children in Brisbane.

But as Taylor opened the scoring with that thunderous strike – finally fit enough to play in her customary defensive midfielder role instead of defence – the three-year battle must have seemed worth it.

The Hockeyroos are still undefeated in Paris. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Trinny Powell’s Hockeyroos won their third straight pool game with a 3-0 victory over the United States through Taylor’s crunching goal in general play, young star striker Alice Arnott’s world-class slap shot and a debut Olympics goal for Maddison Brooks.

As Taylor told News Corp of that periacetabular osteotomy surgery, soon after the heartbreaking Tokyo 2021 quarterfinal defeat: “It has been an interesting three years for me. I had major hip surgery and as often happens nothing goes smoothly in recovery”.

“They cut the pelvis in three places and twisted it backwards. I was a bit naive going into the surgery and thought I would be right to play. It changed the way I run, changed the way my body holds loads. I ended up with osteitis pubis through my pelvis, bone stress through my shins.

“Thankfully I have finally managed to get over them this year and have pretty much stayed on the park. The more I think about it, my body has not been holding up as well as it could, so it’s time to start my career outside of hockey.”

In a game where captain Jane Claxton (calf) was rested instead of playing her 250th game and defender Hattie Shand made her debut at the expense of penalty corner expert Tatum Stewart (knee), Taylor’s early intervention was perfectly timed.

Third goal scorer Brooks was Claxton’s injury replacement, having already filled in early in the tournament for Arnott.

Alice Arnott hit the scoreboard. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

And her perfectly placed strike to the bottom right corner in the final corner will be an enduring Olympic memory.

Shand came in and perfectly filled her role, with the daughter of sheep farmers in Naracoorte in rural South Australia surely a mainstay of this side in coming campaigns.

The victory continued Australia’s impressive form after wins over South Africa (2-1) and Great Britain (4-0), with the Hockeyroos intent on securing the best possible pool finish with games against world No. 2 Argentina and then Spain ahead.

Nothing is guaranteed in a strong Olympic competition but any chance to avoid the likes of the Netherlands, women’s hockey’s dominant side, or unbeaten Belgium until a potential semi-final would be a godsend.

Originally published as Hockeyroos continue 2024 paris Olympic Games unbeaten run with 3-0 win over US