Hampshire’s Olympic hockey gold medallist Alex Danson-Bennett announces her retirement

Hampshire-born Alex Danson helped GB win women's hockey gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016. David Rogers/Getty Images)

The 34-year-old Hampshire-born star, part of Britain's Olympic gold medal winning side in 2016, has not played since suffering a head injury on holiday 18 months ago.

She had harboured hopes of competing at this summer's Tokyo Olympics and linked up with the Great Britain squad at their Bisham Abbey training base last month.

But Danson-Bennett has now decided the time is right to hang up her stick.

‘After a long 18 months but a fabulous 18 years in the sport, it's the right time for me to retire,’ she said.

‘It's been the most incredible journey I could have asked for, but a lot has changed. My head injury has been life-changing, also in terms of my perspective and things that have happened within my family.

‘Throughout my career I've been 100 per cent immersed in being an athlete, but my priorities are different now. All of that means it's the right time.’

Danson-Bennett is Great Britain and England women’s all-time joint leading scorer with 115 goals in 306 appearances.

She was joint top scorer in Rio 2016 and the same year received an MBE for services to hockey.

Great Britain and England Hockey will celebrate Danson-Bennett’s career at the FIH Hockey Pro League home game against Argentina at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday, May 16.