A view from the inside- Josh Beltz's journey to the Kookaburras
By Sabbie Heesh
"Il mio ingresso nella squadra dei Kookaburras è arrivato in modo del tutto inaspettato."
Josh joined #teamritual back in 2018 and we are delighted he has just renewed his contract until 2024. Josh is a defender for the the Australian mens hockey team- the Kookaburras and is currently training for Tokyo 2021. We caught up with Josh to discuss his journey to the Kookaburras and what life looks like in Australia amidst the global pandemic.
Background
My name is Joshua Beltz, #10, a defender, and the 411th member of the Australian Men’s Hockey team, the Kookaburras.
I come from Hobart, Tasmania.
‘Tassie’, as it’s known, is an Island off the south coast of the Australian mainland, with a population of roughly 500,000 people. I grew up there, playing my hockey for Diamondbacks HC (formerly Price of Wales Wellington HC).
La mia famiglia è molto coinvolta nella comunità hockeystica della Tasmania e fin da piccolo ho passato praticamente tutti i miei weekend al centro hockey. Ho iniziato a giocare non appena ho potuto tenere in mano una stecca, e da allora il mio amore per questo sport non ha fatto che crescere.
Entrare nei Kookaburras
Guardando indietro, il mio ingresso nella squadra dei Kookaburras è arrivato in modo abbastanza inaspettato. Nel 2014 ho avuto la fortuna di vivere momenti speciali, che hanno contribuito a portarmi dove sono oggi. L’inizio di quell’anno ha visto il mio primo raduno nazionale giovanile, dove ho potuto capire la velocità e il ritmo del gioco, e quanto avessi ancora da imparare. Venivo da un lungo periodo di infortunio che mi aveva tenuto fuori per quasi tutto l’anno precedente, quindi le mie aspettative erano piuttosto basse. Ero semplicemente felice di esserci.
Towards the end of 2014, I competed in the Australian Hockey League, where the best players from around Australia go up against each other in a two-week tournament, representing their home states. Tassie managed to win that tournament for the first time in the state’s history, and after some solid performances, a few weeks later I was offered a spot in the Australia-A camp. A lot has happened since then, but that tournament is one that I’m still so proud of. It was one of the big reasons I was able to represent Australia.
I’ve been living in Perth, on the west coast of Australia, since I first made the Kookaburras squad in 2015. I play for Hale in the club competition here. I’m incredibly lucky to have my girlfriend, Hilary, and my brother, Hayden, here in Perth. Along with the many great people I’ve met along the way , they make me feel comfortable here.
Impact of Covid-19
"I hope to experience tournament life again"
Con tutto quello che è successo nel mondo negli ultimi 18 mesi, ho apprezzato ancora di più quello che faccio. Ovviamente mi mancano i tornei e i viaggi all'estero, sono la fonte di alcuni dei miei ricordi più belli con grandi amici.
There will come a time where those things start back up, and I hope I’m able to experience tournament life again. But in the meantime, I’m grateful to still be able to do what I love. The lack of international matches has been unusual and different, and resulted in lots of training. But in a time where there so many uncertainties, the fact I’m able to wake up, train with the Kookaburras, and then enjoy a coffee afterwards with my best mates makes me feel extremely fortunate.
Josh Beltz, 2021
