SIXTY SECONDS WITH CATHY McKEAN

A question and answers session with hockey player Cathy McKean

Name: Cathy McKean

Schools:I attended St Gerard's School, Bray, for both primary and secondary school . . . and I am now back there teaching English and Spanish.

Sport:Hockey.

Other school sports: Tennis, soccer and athletics.

Who got you started?My parents come from a Gaelic games background but hockey was the predominant sport at St Gerard's. My mother is from Kilkenny and is related to several Kilkenny hurling Cats. My father was a Tyrone minor footballer.

I have to thank my school hockey coach, Olga Stones, for introducing me to hockey.

The Best of Days: Winning my 100th cap, and scoring on the day against Canada in last year's Olympic qualifiers – it was a great buzz.

The Worst of Days: Not qualifying for Beijing last year – we started so well with three wins, but lost our momentum against Italy. After all the preparation we put in, it was really hard to take going down against a team ranked lower than us, especially because there was a real belief in our team that we could qualify.

Most inspiring sporting memory: As a member of the Railway Union seventh team in my early teens we won the Minor Cup – I felt like I'd won an Olympic medal. It was particularly sweet because we were in the Minor B division, which we also won that year, and beat the winners of the Minor A division in the final.

I wished I was: As a child I loved sport but there was never a star I wished I could be. The thing I was most passionate about was the situation in South America. I was influenced by stories my father told me about the injustices he witnessed when he worked in Peru in the '60s.

When I was 14 I read an article about a Colombian teacher who had opened up his house to about 12 street children who had been living in desperate conditions under the constant threat of being gunned down by the notorious death squads.

As well as looking after these children this man was educating them. Reading this article had a massive influence on my life and he was someone I aspired to be like when I was growing up.

If I could turn back time: I probably would go through the painstaking process of getting fit earlier to avoid injury. I injured the cruciate ligament and cartilage in my right knee twice in my early 20s and I definitely think if I had been fitter and stronger this could have been avoided. Also, once you get a good base it's a lot easier to maintain fitness.

The value of school sport to you: I would have to say lasting friendships. You never forget who suffered alongside you in those painstaking fitness sessions in the dark, cold nights of the winter term.

Most Admired:Not a sports star, but I would have to say my father. Without doubt he is the single greatest influence in my life. The public figure I most admire is Che Guevara. From both of these men I have learned to be passionate, determined and believe anything is possible.

Not Too Keen: I would have to say Roy Keane. I know he had good reason to leave the training camp in Saipan but I just think that so many fans were disappointed. He was undeniably a class player with tremendous skill and an unbelievable work ethic. He would have been a massive addition to the Irish team in the World Cup. I also think he showed a lack of character in walking away from Sunderland.

One sporting wish: To get to the final of the European Championships – then anything can happen.

Cathy McKean, a forward with Leinster club Loreto, made her senior international debut in June 2000 and, eight years later, won her 100th cap against Canada in the Olympic Qualifier in Vancouver.