Bianca Russell is a brilliant athlete and leads the defense for the New Zealand woman’s hockey team with great skill. Bianca has been to the London 2012 Olympics and has secured many medals for New Zealand, such as the Champions challenge in South Africa in 2009 when New Zealand won gold. She is an outstanding goalkeeper and a very fascinating woman. She is a great person on and off the pitch.

Bianca was born on the 4th July 1978 and was very sporty at primary school. Bianca loved playing almost every sport available to her. Her siblings who all also played lots of sport hugely inspired Bianca. Bianca grew up in a very sporty household and new early on in life that she wanted a career in sport. Bianca has found it hard to choose a career, as she wanted to keep her other activities alive such as horse riding and sea kayaking. Bianca’s career with New Zealand hockey really took off in 2008 when she debuted against China. She showed the coaches she was a great goalie and one they should consider for their future plans.

Bianca has an intense training routine made up of many dynamics, intense physical drills as well as mental conditioning and communication drills to make sure she is the best goalie in New Zealand. Bianca has had to sacrifice a lot of time out of her social life so she can pursue her hockey career. She has had to deal with non-selection, injuries and the loss of her loving father. But these challenges and the way she has overcome them have shaped Bianca into becoming an amazing goalie and show the world that Kiwis are a great nation for hockey.

Bianca has a great list of achievements and is a truly inspirational sports woman. She has managed to overcome many difficulties in her life and to succeed despite of them. She is is a great role model for any kids seeking a career in hockey in NZ.