Hockey star Toman's anxious wait to be selected for Commonwealth Games

Seconds feel like years when you’re scrolling down the email to find out whether you’ve been selected for the Commonwealth Games, writes Sportsbeat's Milly McEvoy.

Derby hockey star Anna Toman has indeed been named on Team England for a second Commonwealth Games, but had to wait just that little bit longer than most of her teammates to find out with her surname third from bottom on the email.

The 29-year-old claimed bronze as part of Team England at Gold Coast 2018 and is looking forward to having her family back cheering her on in Birmingham later this summer.

“It's always a nerve-wracking time and my name is towards the bottom because it's done alphabetically so I have to scroll down quickly.” said the Olympic bronze medallist.

“It is a nerve-wracking wait, but obviously, thankfully, I saw my name.

“We always do it when we're apart. So often we're having a bit of a break, like a break week or a few days off so people can be where they want to be, if they want to be with friends and family. That's very important for us.

“It's always my mum who I tell first. She played hockey herself when she was younger, and she's by far my number one fan. She follows me everywhere, so she's definitely the first one.”

Toman is one of more than 1,100 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing them to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering technology, science and medical support.

Since making her international debut in 2017, Toman has amassed over 100 caps for England and Great Britain but is not quite used to being labelled a senior member of the squad.

She added: “I still find it quite weird to think that I'm now one of the senior players or I'm one of the older ones.

“It's taking me a bit of time to get used to but obviously I've got a lot more experience now so I feel I need to use my voice and use my experience and don't hide away from that.

“Obviously I still have players that I look up to but equally I hope some of the players are looking up to me, so I think it's important that I do take on that responsibility and I help the others lead.

“That's I think where I will go forward but also just focus on simple things and focus on my game as well and then just do my role on the pitch, which I think is the most important thing for me as a player.”

This summer, Team England, supported by funding raised by National Lottery players, will comprise of over 400 athletes, and having secured her place on the squad, Toman is looking to capitalise on the once in a lifetime opportunity for medal success in her home country.

With prior experience at the Commonwealth Games – as well as a home major tournament having been part of England’s squad for the 2018 World Cup held in London – Toman knows that the younger members of the squad will be turning to her for guidance ahead of Birmingham 2022.

And the defender’s advice for her more junior teammates is to stop and smell the roses, but only for a little while.

“It's an amazing opportunity for them and particularly for it being a Commonwealth Games and for it being at home, it's even more special,” she said.

“I reflect back, so we had the home World Cup in 2018, that was relatively early in my career as well. And I think obviously, we'll sit them down and we'll speak to them and just try and get them to think like obviously this experience is amazing and take it all in but try to not let it overwhelm you.

“I think we all play a team sport for a reason. We're all there together, we've got very different levels of experience and we can help each other through that as long as we just stick together and speak to each other.”

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