Kookaburras' Kieran Govers retires from Hockey Australia ranks

A super-fit 30-year-old Wollongong bloke, with one of the world’s most lethal drag flicks, Govers has known this throughout his career.

So while there was an air of sadness and frustration in announcing his retirement, almost two years before the Tokyo Olympics he had been aiming for, it should also come with celebration for a remarkable career.

Three Champions Trophy wins, two World Cup titles, a Commonwealth Games gold and a London Olympic bronze.

All, essentially, on borrowed time.

As a sports writer, you’re in a privileged position of following the careers of people across a range of sports, gaining an insight into the work done behind the scenes just to make it to game day.

And in almost 20 years of covering athletes, this columnist has seen, few, if any, as dedicated as Govers.

Read more: Can you guess who these Illawarra sports stars are?

The hip surgeries and ongoing soreness, the related back problems, hamstring strains and niggles, with the odd shoulder issue thrown in, just to make life a little more difficult.

“It’s always been sore, but you try not to show people it’s there,” Govers said of the degenerative hip condition he’s grown up with.

“You don’t want to use it as an excuse.

“My right hip needs resurfacing and the left one needs a clean out. I’ll need a hip replacement eventually, but I’m just trying to prolong it for as long as I can.

“It’s been a blast, the ride I’ve had, so to say I’ve performed at the top level and been able to have done what I have is pretty awesome.”

Govers fought back from a string of injuries to just barely be fit in time for Kookaburras selection for the Rio Olympics, only to be overlooked anyway.

He was eventually brought back into the fold this year, before a chat with national coach Colin Batch brought about the end of his international career, knowing he had missed out on a reserve position for the World Cup. 

All in front of a backdrop where he will marry partner Nicki in January, with young son Leo and step-daughters Ashen and Layla.

And let’s face it, hockey hardly has the financial security of other more high-profile sports. 

At the end, the statistics show 126 games and 60 goals, without reflecting the seemingly endless hours of rehabilitation.

So the family baton is officially passed on to younger brother Blake, 22, who made his Olympic debut in Rio.

Flynn Ogilvie and national squad newcomer Jack Hayes – cousin of three-time Olympian Casey Sablowski (nee Eastham) – ensure Illawarra’s representation for years to come. 

Kieran admits if had pushed on towards Tokyo, he would have been likely fighting with Blake for one spot, given they’re both strikers, who play key roles in set pieces.

“It’s my fault,” Kieran says with a laugh.

“When we were kids, he wanted to be a goalkeeper and I’d just launch balls at him non-stop. 

“I talked him out of it and now he’s turned into the player he is.”