Yahoo Sport 
Sam Quek: I love being a role model and being able to influence youngsters
March 8 is International Women’s Day, with the message ‘BeBoldForChange’.
Team GB Olympic gold medalist Sam Quek has become a TV celebrity since success at the Rio 2016 Games and she told Yahoo Sport’s Mark Lawford just what fame has meant to her – and how proud she is to be a role model for female athletes as well as driving a Sun-Pat initiative to provide free hockey coaching for children throughout Great Britain.
How has being an Olympic Champion changed your life?
Massively. On reflection, had we got silver or bronze life would not be how it is now.
The classic one is “I’m a celebrity”. To be classed as celebrity, and thrust into the public eye on such a huge show has done wonders for the sport of hockey especially.
I have had the opportunity to reach out not only to hockey fans but also people who might not have caught the Olympic final or even been interested in the Olympics.
It is just another opportunity for them to hear my story, to hear our story – what we went through – so life has definitely changed and I have been so fortunate to have had so many incredible opportunities.
Do you like being famous, being on TV and fronting the Sun-Pat Fuelling Fun campaign?
I am not going to lie – I love it. I love being recognised and love talking to people. I love hearing their stories, where they were and what they were doing when we won gold, the emotions they went through.
It also helps me give something back. Without their support I would never have gotten where I did on I’m a Celebrity
The welcome we got when we landed at Heathrow after the Olympics was also incredible.
They are part of our success whether they are buying a Lottery ticket or tweeting us or sending us messages.
They have all contributed to our success in some shape or form.
This is why I am so excited to be working with the Sun-Pat campaign. It’s a way for me to give something back as I feel so passionate about this.
They came up with the brilliant idea of giving free hockey masterclasses and it’s something great for the kids to do in the Easter holidays.
It will be great for the kids because not only is hockey such a brilliant sport but they will be able to train with an Olympic gold medalist.
Are you are aware of your influence as a role model both as a hockey player and successful woman?
I have been very lucky to be part of a successful GB programme so I take both my roles as a player and female role model very seriously.
As a GB team member we are all aware of our duties as role model and make sure we behave as we should at all times.
Then, when I was in the Jungle, I was very confident with myself. I have learned this skill through years of being in top-level sport.
I have lived the life of a role model for years because I have always wanted to.
One is not more important that the other. I am lucky to have achieved what I have individually and part of a great team.
I now realise I am in a position to influence youngsters after being in the spotlight so much in Rio so it is a challenge I am looking forward to meeting.
How did you manage to cope with the publicity surrounding taking showers in a bikini while in Celebrity?
There were always going to be issues regarding what I was wearing while having a shower but nobody forced me to take showers.
It was never a problem with the guys so I did not think it was an issue for us either.
I did not want me in a bikini to be regarded as a huge issue – and in reality I was the one getting soap in my eyes and looking a bit of an idiot when it came to showering.
For me it was all about staying clean but for others – mostly the media – it was all about who looks sexiest in a bikini.
I was called a swimsuit model and I have never bathed in one of those in my life let alone been classed as a model.
For me it was all about Sam Quek the Olympic gold medalist not Sam Quek the swimsuit model – because I am only one of those.
Olympic gold medalist Sam Quek will be running hockey classes for kids with Sun-Pat Peanut Butter’s Fuelling Fun hockey sessions. The sessions are taking place all over the UK during the Easter holidays. For more details, and to sign up for your chance to win a place, visit the website http://www.sunpat.co.uk/fuellingfun/
Hockey classes will be taking part in five locations nationwide during the Easter holidays:
Monday 10thApril, 11am – 12:30pm – Spencer Hockey Club, London
Monday 10thApril, 7pm-8pm – Bristol & West Hockey Club, Bristol
Tuesday 11thApril, 4pm – 5:30pm – Bowdon Hockey Club, Manchester
Thursday 13thApril, 10am–11:30pm – Whitley Bay & Tynemouth Hockey Club, Newcastle
Thursday 13thApril, 4pm – 5:30pm – Clydesdale & Clydesdale Western Hockey Club , Glasgow
