RAF hockey star Air Specialist 1 Liam Sanford will be on the Olympic stage for the second time in his competitive career when he steps onto the pitch at Stade Yves du Manoir in Paris.
Just getting selected for the GB national team is tough enough given the depth of the squad, but AS1 Sanford described it as a “proud moment” when speaking to BFBS Sport at his training base at Bisham Abbey.
He said: “It's a very competitive team in a very competitive environment so to have booked my place and the team to go to Paris is a proud moment for me and my family.”
“We've obviously been in the preparation stages for Paris over the last few days of training so we still have some work to do before we head to Paris.”
Aiming for the Paris Gold
AS1 Sanford, a veteran of the Tokyo Games postponed to 2021, and his teammates will be hoping to improve on their fifth-place finish, which ended with a 3-1 loss to India in the quarterfinals.
“I'm sure this team has a lot of belief that they can make it all the way to the end,” he said.
“We're not trying to hide the goal of this team, and that goal is to win a gold medal, just like any other team.”
“Obviously there are other teams out there trying to do the same thing so it will be an interesting competition.
“All we can do is go out there and play our game, stick to our principles and believe we are the best team.”
Contrasting experiences
AS1 Sanford will have a completely different experience in Paris, in stark contrast to the first match in Tokyo, where no spectators were allowed under strict COVID-19 restrictions.
“Tokyo was my first time there so of course I was super excited, but then of course COVID hit,” he recalled.
“But it's a great experience to be out there and of course the thing I'm most looking forward to going into this match is having the crowd there, having my family there.
“Stepping onto that pitch with my family and partner watching will be a very proud moment for me.”
Future Plans
The end of the Olympics will be a monumental moment, both professionally and personally, for Sanford as he returns home from Paris and prepares to leave the RAF.
He hopes to continue his playing career with Great Britain and England Hockey, with an eye on competing at the Commonwealth Games in 2026 and possibly a third Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
“Yeah, that's my plan,” he said.
“I haven't really thought about what I want to do specifically, but I want to do something different. [Olympic] cycle.
“Whether my body holds up or not, I'll be back in September and with the help of my physiotherapists and strength and conditioning I'll hopefully get myself in tip-top shape. [strength and conditioning] The plan is to continue until 2028.
“I just have to see how we go, what the coaching staff is like and how my body feels.”
AS1 Sanford will travel with the team to Paris on July 18th to face Spain in the opening game on July 27th.
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