Rachael Lynch

Rachael Anne Lynch (born 2 July 1986) is a field hockey player from Australia.

Personal life Rachael Lynch was born and raised in Warrandyte, a suburb of Melbourne. and previously worked at the Royal Perth Hospital.

Career Domestic leagues Australian Hockey League Prior to the disbandment of the Australian Hockey League (AHL), Lynch was a member of the Victorian Vipers. Throughout her career with the team, she won the national title on two occasions, in 2012 and 2017.

Hockey One After the introduction of the Hockey One League in 2019, Lynch was named a member of the HC Melbourne team in the inaugural tournament. The team finished second, losing the final in penalties.

Hockeyroos Lynch made her senior international debut for the Hockeyroos in 2006, in a test match against England.

Lynch has medalled three times at the Commonwealth Games, winning gold in 2010 and 2014, as well as silver in 2018.

In December 2020, the Hockeyroos selection panel dropped Lynch from the national squad for 2021, essentially ending her career twelve months after she won the FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award. The removing of Lynch and former captain Georgina Morgan prompted an emergency meeting of the Hockeyroos, with the team considering a players' strike. In April 2021, Lynch won her appeal and returned to the Hockeyroos.

In June 2021, Lynch was selected as the keeper to represent Australia in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Hockeyroos lost 1-0 to India in the quarter-finals and therefore were not in medal contention.

Recognition Since the introduction of the Goalkeeping Award in the FIH Player of the Year Awards in 2014, Lynch has been nominated on three occasions.

In 2019, Lynch won the award for the first time.

Lynch was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) at the 2024 Australia Day Honours for service to hockey.