Gemma Flynn

Gemma McCaw (née Flynn, born 2 May 1990) is a New Zealand field hockey player who has represented her country in three Summer Olympics (2008, 2012, and 2016).[4]

Gemma McCaw
Personal information
Born (1990-05-02) 2 May 1990
Tauranga, New Zealand
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1]
Weight 60 kg (132 lb)
Playing position Striker/Midfield
Senior career
Years Team
Midlands
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008– New Zealand 246 (71)
Medal record
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place2010 DelhiTeam
Bronze medal – third place2014 GlasgowTeam
Champions Trophy
Bronze medal – third place2011 Amstelveen
Champions Challenge
Gold medal – first place2009 Cape Town
Last updated on: 15 January 2017 (national)[2][3]

Early life

Born in Tauranga,[5] Gemma McCaw is the youngest child and only daughter of Rob and Michelle Flynn.[6] Of Māori descent, McCaw affiliates to Te Arawa.[7] She attended Tauranga Intermediate School and Tauranga Girls' College,[6] and studied sports science at Massey University.[8]

Hockey

As Gemma Flynn, she has competed for the New Zealand women's national field hockey team (the Black Sticks Women) since 2008, including for the team at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, 2016 Summer Olympics and at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games.[9] In 2009 she was nominated for the FIH Women's Young Player of the Year.[10] At both the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, her team lost the bronze medal game and thus came fourth.[11][12] She was part of the team which made it to the final game of the FIH World League in 2015, but the team lost 5–1 against Argentina.[13]

Following the 2016 Summer Olympics, she took an extended break from hockey and later decided to retire.[14] She came out of retirement in November 2019.[15][16] In February 2020, she reached her 250th cap for the national team.[17] Gemma Mccaw had intentions of competing again in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo but with it being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic decided against it.[18]

Outside hockey

Alongside Luuka Jones, Kane Williamson, Ria Hall, and Tiki Taane, Gemma McCaw is one of the celebrities behind the Bay of Plenty's No Place Like Home tourist campaign launched on 25 January 2016.[19][20] In October 2016 she became an ambassador for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.[21] McCaw is also a Sport New Zealand ambassador. [22]

Personal life

In 2013, it was reported that Flynn was dating All Blacks captain Richie McCaw. She moved to Christchurch in 2014 to be with him,[23] became engaged to him in early 2016,[24][25] and married him on 14 January 2017.[26] They have three daughters, born in December 2018, in May 2021 and in April 2023.[27]

References
  1. "Gemma Flynn – London 2012 Olympics". Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  2. "New Zealand Hockey Representatives – Women" (PDF). Hockey New Zealand. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  3. "New Zealand Goal Scorers – Women" (PDF). Hockey New Zealand. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  4. "Gemma Flynn – Hockey New Zealand". Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  5. "Gemma Flynn, New Zealand Hockey Player – Basic, Professional Career and Personal Life Details". Sportycious. 16 August 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  6. Fuller, James (19 June 2012). "The making of an Olympic hockey star". Bay of Plenty Times. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  7. "Maori Sports Awards 2012: Lisa Carrington takes top award". Rotorua Daily Post. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  8. "McCaw's supposed date 'deserves best'". Bay of Plenty Times. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  9. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Gemma Flynn". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  10. "FIH releases Women's Player of the Year nominees". International Hockey Federation. 25 November 2009.
  11. "Match Report" (PDF). International Hockey Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  12. "2016 Olympic Games (Women)". International Hockey Federation. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  13. "Gemma Flynn got married! Blacksticks star got married to an All Black star". 15 January 2017.
  14. "Black Sticks striker Gemma Flynn to take extended break before deciding future". Stuff.co.nz. Fairfax New Zealand Limited. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  15. "Richie McCaw is baby Charlotte's favourite as Gemma makes Black Sticks hockey return". The New Zealand Herald. 6 December 2019.
  16. "Hockey: Black Sticks women welcome back Gemma McCaw and Kayla Whitelock ahead of 2020 Olympics". The New Zealand Herald. 6 November 2019.
  17. "Gemma McCaw earns 250th Black Sticks cap with mixed emotions after coach dies on same day as milestone". TVNZ. 11 February 2020.
  18. "New Zealand women's hockey player McCaw retires after Tokyo 2020 postponement". www.insidethegames.biz. 25 June 2020.
  19. "Local celebrities celebrate best of the Bay". Stuff.co.nz. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  20. "Gemma McCaw joins other Bay stars in new tourism campaign". New Zealand Herald. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  21. "Gemma Flynn is new breast cancer ambassador". Stuff.co.nz. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  22. "Balance is Better Champions: Gemma McCaw | Sport New Zealand - Ihi Aotearoa". Sport New Zealand | Ihi Aoteroa.
  23. "Gemma Flynn changes her name on marriage to Richie McCaw". New Zealand Herald. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  24. "Smith: Should Richie McCaw be knighted now for rugby feats?". Stuff.co.nz. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  25. "'Gemma said 'yes'!' – Richie McCaw, Gemma Flynn engaged – Sport – NZ Herald News". Nzherald.co.nz. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  26. van Beynen, Martin (14 January 2017). "Richie McCaw's and Gemma Flynn's big day arrives". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  27. "Richie and Gemma McCaw announce birth of baby Charlotte: 'Our hearts are so full'". stuff.co.nz. 13 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
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