It was a video call that would change Marian College alumni Kate Taylor’s life.

You’ve been selected to go to the Olympics.

“I definitely cried but tried to hide the tears as I don’t like to show too much emotion. I was surprised but more relieved to finally know the outcome as the week had gone very slowly knowing that I was going to receive either good or bad news,” Kate says of that fateful call.

“My family were very, very excited. We don’t speak about football lots in the house so they had been hanging on for me to tell them. My mum gets very emotional so she was tearing up and my dad and sister just kept smiling!”

Attending the Olympics had been a dream of Kate’s ever since she was young.

“Growing up it was always my dream to go to an Olympic games and watching fellow kiwi athletes drove me further to this dream. I just never believed it was actually possible.”

But as Kate’s talent as a football player began to be recognised, first through Canterbury United Pride and Cashmere clubs where she won three titles and then with an offer to join the Wellington Phoenix Women’s Team in 2021 when Kate was in Year 13 at Marian, reaching that dream became a real possibility.

“It was a no-brainer to leave school early, however, there were a lot of other factors at play. There was also a lot of unknown and I couldn’t tell my friends or teachers much at all because I didn’t even know what was happening. But the school's reaction was incredible. 

“They made everything work and found a way for me to finish my schooling properly so I could still go to university. I knew that they wanted the best for me and wanted me to be happy which is why they made it work and I’m very grateful for that.”

In the lead up to Olympic selection, Kate never once assumed she was going to be in the team and worked hard to become her best.

“I went and trained with a boys team in Auckland (Auckland United U23s) with a couple of other teammates to help us prepare for selection. Without this I definitely do not think I would have made the team as training with boys is very different, especially young boys who are still growing in many ways. It pushed me outside my comfort zone and enabled me to reset.”

She then competed with the NZ Women's Team in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, scoring a goal against Samoa. But still, she did not assume her place on the Olympic team was a given.

“It definitely was not a moment where I thought I was in,  and I think this is a good thing. You never know what can happen and we see it in sport all the time with people not getting selected for various reasons. Although it was awesome to score my first goal and go to the qualifiers I knew I had a very long way to go and that it wasn’t going to be easy.”

It was a surreal moment when she was finally told of her selection.

“I think the possibility has always been at the back of my mind, however, I didn’t think it would ever happen until it was officially announced and even until we played our first game. For me I didn’t want to consider myself an Olympian until I was able to step foot onto the field in our first game.”

Arriving in Paris and into their “Olympic Bubble” was surreal.

“Unfortunately we weren’t in the Olympic Village although we did get to visit it after the tournament. For me the whole pre camp didn’t feel like the Olympics and it probably didn’t until our match day m-1 session because there are more strict rules you have to follow and more security etc. 

“But it was a crazy feeling, so many people tune into the Olympic games and I just wanted to enjoy the experience and make people proud. Trying to do that can sometimes be a juggle when there is also other noise around. But it was so awesome, I loved every minute of it.”

The team played their best against Canada and Colombia before their third pool match against hosts France. It was there that Kate scored the only goal against the team.

“I was quite nervous before all three of the games but knowing I would soon be hopefully playing in that stadium, having around 25,000 fans and playing against the host nation meant I was a little extra nervous/excited. 

“It was probably the biggest game of my career so far. The goal happened so quickly but also in slow motion, it was insane. It was such an indescribable feeling and I still can’t believe it but I knew we still had a long way to go in order to get out of our group so my focus snapped very quickly.”

The Olympics also brought some amazing memories Kate will cherish.

“Off the field spending time with my teammates and specifically doing just dance battles and practising the haka were my favourite. The most interesting part was spotting the drone flying above our session because it was so unexpected and unbelievable. And my favourite on the field moment was scoring as well as performing the Haka to our captain who couldn’t play because she was injured.”

Kate continues to keep in touch with her friends and some of the teachers at Marian - even giving them a shout out during her post-match interview, knowing they were watching her before school.

“I know that they are always supporting me from afar as I am with them and the school. I definitely keep in touch with some of my best friends and we talk all the time which I love, I wouldn’t be where I am without them! The teachers always supported me and helped me a lot when I was just starting out at Marian as it can be a bit daunting. They have stuck with me throughout and I am very grateful for all of them, even when I gave some of them a hard time!”

With the Olympics now over, Kate begins her contract with Dijon Club in France and hopes she will return to the Olympics again in 2028.

“I would absolutely love to compete again in 2028, a lot can happen in four years so I have a long way to go. But I am determined for the team to be in a better place than we were at this one so I want to help in any way possible!”

Article added: Thursday 15 August 2024