An early start in the game he loves
Sam Lane first picked up a hockey stick at the age of three, where he would hit balls up and down the field while his two older sisters played as youngsters in Ashburton.
The Christchurch-born, Temuka-raised striker tried his hand at just about every sport going in his younger years, including tennis, cricket and rugby, but it was the excitement of the hockey field that made him pursue the sport competitively.
He recalls wanting to play competitively from a young age. “I remember as a kid I would write in my exercise books at primary school about wanting to be a hockey player when I grew up, which is funny to think about now.”
Sam started representing New Zealand when he was 19, making his senior debut for the national side in 2016 in the Trans-Tasman Trophy against Australia.
He’s now played 110 tests for New Zealand, including the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, and recently returned from his professional career in the Netherlands, joining the New Zealand Team as they prepare for Paris.
Overcoming personal set backs
As any athlete will attest, the journey through competitive sport comes with many ups and downs.
Sam experienced the power of team support at its best early in his professional career, when his mum was diagnosed with cancer when Sam was in his early 20s, and sadly passed away.
“That was a hard loss, and one where I received a lot of support from the team. I took some time off to be with family, but I still felt so supported by everyone which made it easier to come back when I was ready.”
Outside of sport, Sam has a commerce degree and is currently completing his certificate in financial services, aiming to transition to a career in finance.
But first, “I’m keen to get to the Olympics.”
Training ramps up
Sam says training for the Olympics is, unsurprisingly, a “different beast.”
With 10 hours on the field, and the same in the gym, six days a week, there’s no denying Sam and the rest of the team are committing everything in preparation for Paris.
“On top of that I’m also coming back from a foot injury I sustained a couple of months ago, so I’m also doing a bit of physio and rehab to be in the best possible position come July.”
Based in Auckland with the rest of the team, Sam says his local Flex Fitness has been a welcome addition to the rest of his weekly training, particularly with its range of weight-bearing equipment.
“I really like having the space there to do the sled-pushing, plus all the other weights equipment is really useful, and the same quality you’d find at the high performance gym.”
Flex Fitness proud to support Sam Lane Olympic Hockey Player
As an official partner of the New Zealand Team, Flex Fitness is thrilled to stand alongside the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and share our passion for fitness and excellence with the nation’s athletes.
