Four-time Hockey Olympian inducted into Queensland Sport Hall of Fame

Widely regarded as one of the best defenders of all time, hockey legend Mark Knowles was recently inducted into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding career.

Capped 324 times for Australia over 15 years, the decorated Kookaburras captain was the youngest member of the gold medal-winning team in Athens in 2004, won bronze in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012, and finished his Olympic playing career in Rio in 2016.

A star at home and abroad, a leader on and off the pitch, he was also a four-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and carried the Australian flag into the Opening Ceremony at the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast.

“To stand in the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame when I look at all the people who have come before me, my idols and my inspirations, is just such an honour,” said Knowles.

“Growing up in Rockhampton, I was certainly inspired and influenced by sport.

“For us, sport was a way we could involve ourselves in the community; it was a way for us to be around our friends and grow our network. I definitely grew up wanting to be a sportsperson because of that influence.

“I was lucky enough to play cricket, rugby league, and hockey in Rockhampton. All of those different pieces helped to play a role in my development, and ultimately I got to a point where I had to decide which sport I really wanted to do, and I just knew I desperately wanted to be a Kookaburra.

“You never think you’ll go to four Olympics or be in a Hall of Fame like this, but I really wanted to be an elite athlete, and I’ve been lucky enough for things to come about from that childhood dream.

“Reflecting on it all now, when my kids say to me, ‘Wow Dad, you’re in the Hall of Fame,’ that’s my favourite part,” he said.

Already inducted this year into the Hockey Australia Hall of Fame and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, the 2014 World Player of the Year is a passionate advocate for sportsmanship.

“The dedication, the community spirit, and the passion make sport so special in our state. I’m definitely a very passionate sportsperson, and I love that sometimes we win and sometimes we lose, but that most Queenslanders still love us no matter what,” he said.

“I’m an advocate for being a strong role model whether you’re winning or losing, and I think those times I was supported in both victory and defeat helped shape me as a player and a role model.

“I had the honour of supporting Anna Meares as the Deputy Chef in Paris, and I loved it. I’m not sure what the future holds yet, but what I do know is that I’ll be the biggest advocate for the Olympics and Paralympics in Brisbane.”