Nicola named first Freewoman

HONOUR . . . Nicola White last night

OLDHAM'S Olympic golden girl Nicola White has been given the honorary Freedom of the Borough.

She spoke of her pride as she became the youngest woman to receive the council's highest honour after winning hockey gold in Rio ­- scoring the vital equaliser to take the final to penalties.

The former Hulme Grammar School pupil is Oldham's first Olympic gold medallist since swimmer Henry Taylor in 1908. She also won a bronze at London in 2012.

She said at last night's civic ceremony: "It's fairly surreal. I didn't ever think I would achieve what I have so it's a very proud moment in my career and in my life.

"I started playing hockey when I was seven and I am now 28. It's been a bumpy ride, it's not been easy, but I've overcome the hurdles of failing at my first international trial when I was 15. I've overcome being told by my coach when I was 18 that I would never play for my country.

"I really had to knuckle down and realise if I wanted to be an Olympic champion a lot of hard work would have to go into it."

She paid tribute to her team mates and the UK Sport and National Lottery funding which allows them to train full-time.

And she said that she was proud to take on an ambassadorial role for the borough, adding: "Making Oldham proud of me is something that drives me every day. I'm proud of coming from here and I know that whenever I achieve something, it's always going to be linked back to Oldham.

"Getting people active and healthy is what matters to me and inspiring young boys and girls to have dreams."

The Freedom of the Borough is a ceremonial title awarded to people who have rendered eminent services to the borough.

Nicola is Oldham's 24th recipient since 1909, following in the footsteps of the likes of former Oldham MP and prime minister Winston Churchill. She is the sixth woman to receive the honour but the first to be specifically called a Freewoman rather than a Freeman.

Council leader Jean Stretton said: "It is about recognising when someone has achieved things that are celebrated and prominent for our borough.

"At the Rio Olympics, Team GB put Great Britain back on the map. It also put the North on the map because of its substantial contribution to the medal tally ­- and our Nicola put Oldham on the map too. What she achieved is a remarkable story.

"She had a dream and she wouldn't give up on it ­- and in the end she made it and she made it big. That is a lesson in life, not just sport, and it's just one of the reasons she is a fantastic inspiration to people across the borough."

Liberal Democrat leader Howard Sykes said he was one of the people who had stayed up until a "silly hour" to watch the hockey team win gold and joked "you can do it less stressfully next time!".

He added: "I do hope that your example will inspire many more of our residents to take up sport with enthusiasm and energy, and in our schools. We have an issue with people being active in sport, particularly with girls in our borough.

"Hopefully there will be an upsurge in hockey and we see more champions."