Another Academy Gold Medal As Australia Win Youth Olympics Hockey

Written on the 28 August 2014 by SWSAS

Australia and our very own hockey star Nathaniel Stewart have won the last gold medal on offer at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China -  in what was a tense ‘shoot-out’ in the men's hockey fives final.

Australia claimed the last gold medal on offer at the Youth Olympic Games in the Chinese city of Nanjing with a ‘shoot-out win’ in the men's hockey fives tournament.
Australia's 3-3 draw with Canada on Wednesday night forced the decider into a ‘shoot-out’ which they won 3-2.

Australian goalkeeper Max Hughes blocked several Canadian attempts while leading 3-1 before the North Americans equalised in the last period.
"It was a bit nerve-racking," he said.

"It got me down a bit but I came back strong because the coach said some words he knows will get me going."

Australia's coach David Guest said anything can happen in the new hockey fives format, even more so when there's a gold medal at stake.
"The boys gave me a few heart palpitations today, that is for sure," he said.

"Canada is a very good team and we were lucky to beat them."

Guest, a Beijing 2008 Olympic gold medallist, said he's proud of how the team focused on improving their performance between the group stages to the play-offs.
"I'm so stoked for them," he said.

"They did their homework and listened to everything I had to say.

"They really put it together on the field."

Nanjing is the second time Australia has won the hockey tournament at the Youth Olympics.

They were undefeated when they won the boys' field hockey at the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore, four years ago.

This year, however, it seemed as though the Aussies were struggling to find their feet in the new hockey fives format, losing some of their pool matches.
"I think it's a real leveller," said Guest.

"It's a tough competition and it really makes it hard. There are no guarantees."