As we look forward to the Paris Summer Olympics getting underway this week, we look back on a FirstPoint alum who starred in the Tokyo Games three years ago.
Ayeisha McFerran, from Larne in Northern Ireland, made history in becoming the first University of Louisville athlete to earn a spot in an Olympic Field Hockey roster when she represented Ireland in Tokyo.
Having played for both Ulster and Ireland at all age group levels, she attracted the attention of a number of leading programs and working with the team at FirstPoint USA, she secured a scholarship to NCAA DI University of Louisville, crossing the Atlantic in 2015 to begin what was to be a hugely successful four-year student athlete career in the States.
"We were so incredibly proud and elated for Ayeisha to be representing Ireland and playing in her first Olympics," said UofL head coach Justine Sowry. "To have our first ever 'hockey' Olympian was very exciting for our Cardinal program. She already had an impressive list of accomplishments and now there is "Olympian" to her name. I know this was a huge dream of hers."
Ayeisha also helped Ireland to a silver medal in the 2018 Women’s Hockey World Cup and was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament. She continues to be a standout for the Irish national side while playing professionally for SV Kampong in the Netherlands, and is a Red Bull ambassador. Away from sport, she is an inspiration to her grieving army of followers, playing a vital role in encouraging kids to read for leisure and her biography was added to the O’Brien Press reading challenge last year.
The Irish didn’t make in through the group stages in Tokyo, facing a number of the world’s leading sides and they were narrowly edged out by Great Britain in qualification for Paris.
Saturday 27 July is the opening day of the 2024 Women’s Field Hockey Olympic tournament with hosts France taking on 2020 Gold Medallists Netherlands in the opening match, while Great Britain and Spain get the men’s tournament underway. For the women, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Japan, People's Republic of China and France are all in Pool A, with Australia, Argentina, Great Britain, Spain, United States and South Africa grouped in Pool B.
Click here for the full Field Hockey schedule
