Gemma Flynn
Gemma Michelle McCaw is a New Zealand field hockey player who has represented her country in three Summer Olympics.
Early life
Born in Tauranga, Gemma McCaw is the youngest child and only daughter of Rob and Michelle Flynn. Of Māori descent, McCaw affiliates to Te Arawa. She was educated at Tauranga Girls' College, and studied sports science at Massey University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise degree from Massey in 2017.Hockey
As Gemma Flynn, she has competed for the New Zealand women's national [field hockey team] since 2008, including for the team at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, 2016 Summer Olympics and at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games. In 2009 she was nominated for the FIH [Player of the Year Awards|FIH Women's Young Player of the Year]. At both the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, her team lost the bronze medal game and thus came fourth. 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.Following the 2016 Summer Olympics, she took an extended break from hockey and later decided to retire. She came out of retirement in November 2019. In February 2020, she reached her 250th cap for the national team. 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.