GB star White has Rio on her radar

CENTRE OF ATTENTION: Olympic and Commonwealth medal-winner Nicola White meets Chadderton Wellbeing Centre staff Manus Twomey (left), facility manager, and head of customer relations Peter Howson.

Hockey: 

OLDHAM ace Nicola White already has an eye on the 2016 Olympic Games.

White (26) won a bronze medal as a member of Team GB at London 2012, and following silver medal joy at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow recently, the Holcombe forward is already looking forward to the Olympic qualifying fixtures from May.

“It’s the number one goal at present,” said Nicola. “Every hockey cycle we go through, the Olympics always seems to be the end target. I’m always going to be pushing for that Rio spot.

“Hopefully, if I keep playing the way I’ve been playing for the past five years or so, then I’ll be in with a shout.

“We’ve got a new international head coach coming in next month, so for now we’ll have to see who that is and if he likes me.”

Former Hulme Grammar School student White is gearing up for her first season in Kent with new club Holcombe, for whom she signed from Leicester before the Commonwealth Games.

Her new team has just been promoted to the Investec Women’s Hockey League Conference Premier Division, and White is aiming high ahead of the season opener on September 13.

She added: “A few of my England international team-mates are already there and we all get on great. I’m really excited.”