Ms Debbie Bowman

Debbie Bowman created Australian Olympic history in her chosen sport of hockey. As captain, she led the Australian team to Olympic gold in Seoul in 1988. Amazingly the feat was Australia's first ever Olympic gold medal in any teams event.

Debbie began to play hockey from the age of seven and it wasn't long before her coaches realised that she was born a leader. At the 1976 State Championships, she was named in the best 13 and so began 16 years of representative Hockey.

Debbie continued her state representation at junior level over the next 4 years and in 1980 broke into the senior ranks. At the age of 16 Debbie was the youngest player ever to make a state senior team.

She was selected in the Australian Squad in 1984, and in 1985 a compulsory move to the Australian Institute of Sport led to Debbie being selected in her first senior National Team. In her debut year, she played international matches against West Germany, England and Scotland.

After just 12 months her leadership qualities again came to the fore and at 21 years of age, she was named captain, the youngest ever to lead an Australian team. In the following year, Debbie achieved the most fulfilling highlight of her illustrious career by leading Australia to Olympic gold at the Seoul Olympics.

Bowman returned to the Games in Barcelona in 1992 (playing under her married name of Sullivan), where the team finished fifth. She has remained active in the sport as a coach.