Bimson keen to go out on a high

Jennie Bimson: looking to end her career with an Olympic medal

Bromsgrove's Jennie Bimson is hoping the Beijing Olympics will be a perfect end to her international hockey career.

Jennie told BBC Hereford and Worcester this would make up for the disappointment of not qualifying for the Athens Games four years ago.

"In 2004 we drew a game against New Zealand when we should have won, so we didn't make the cut," she said.

"I've been playing in the senior Great Britain team for the last 11 years and I'm finally going to the Olympics."

Bimson says there has been a long build-up to the Beijing Games as the Great Britain women's squad secured its place in the Olympics 12 months ago.

"We booked our place last year in Manchester, so we qualified really early," she said.

"We had to finish in the top three in the European competition and we beat Spain in our last game to win that last place."

Qualification was a major relief for Bimson, who readily admits that this was always going to be her last chance to appear on the biggest sporting stage of them all.

With 150 England caps and more than 30 Great Britain appearances behind her, Bimson would have been on most people's shortlist for a place in the squad, but she insisted she was taking nothing for granted.

It will be perfect to go out in the Olympic Games, and even more perfect if we were able to bring home a medal Jennie Bimson

"The team had decided that the best way to find out would be by email, and I was so nervous," said Bimson.

"I went into work knowing the email would be there when I arrived and I couldn't bring myself to push the 'open' button.

"It was done in alphabetical order and my name was right at the top, so I was absolutely delighted.

"You can't guarantee selection for the Olympics whether you have 200 caps or you are brand new into the squad, but I'd been fighting for nine months for that place and it was just a relief to see my name on the list."

Great Britain's opening two pool matches against Germany and Argentina are likely to go a long way towards determining the squad's medal chances.

Bimson accepts that the Great Britain squad's medal chances are something of a long shot, but whatever happens she is determined to enjoy the Olympic experience.

"This is going to be my swansong as international hockey has dominated the whole of my twenties," she said.

"It's been a big commitment over the years, but one that I have thoroughly enjoyed.

"It will be perfect to go out in the Olympic Games, and it would be even more perfect if we were able to bring home a medal."