'I'm proud to represent my hometown at the Olympics'

One of Great Britain's hockey players said she is proud to be flying the flag for her hometown at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Hannah French, who is from Ipswich, helped her team secure a quarter-final place on Thursday after a 5-2 win over the United States.

The 29-year-old made her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 and won a bronze medal.

But she said she has not forgotten her roots.

"I'm always really proud of where I have come from," she said.

"Ipswich is a huge part of my life - I went to Ipswich School from [the age of] three to 18 - so it holds a really dear place in my heart.

"I'm really proud I can represent Ipswich out here."

French took up hockey in Year 4 while at school and looked up to her older brother, Harry Martin, who was part of the men's hockey squad at both London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Their father, Brian Martin, was at Thursday's game ing his daughter and the team.

Many of the family attending were very well acquainted, he explained, which he believed helped the squad.

"It's great to see them because it's really tough for them," he said.

"It's full on, the hockey, and to see their family for all the girls gives them all a great boost."

Great Britain still has a pool game against Argentina remaining but have accumulated enough points to progress into the knockout stages.

French said the team would take it "game by game" and she was "proud" of all the players.

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