Olympic heroine Hannah MacLeod has announced her retirement from international hockey.

The 32 year-old, who grew up in Buckden and started her career at St Ives Hockey Club, starred in Great Britain’s gold medal-winning team in Rio last summer.

MacLeod, who also won bronze as part of the GB team at London 2012, will now focus fully on her work as a high performance consultant

Writing on her Linkedin profile, MacLeod said: “I feel a great sense of content with what I have achieved alongside incredible friends, teammates, coaches and support staff.

“What I take forward is not a list of accomplishments but the inspiration I have gained from seeing my teammates endure, hurt, cry, thrive and roar with such joy and elation you will only ever witness in sport.

“It is seeing these emotions from individuals all striving to achieve a common goal that will live long in my memory.

“Now is the time for me to work on my other passions and embrace new challenges. I’m excited by the opportunity to join friends in the pub after work, order a takeaway when I can’t be bothered to cook and wear something other than a tracksuit and trainers!

“That aside, I’m looking forward to being able to continue to have an impact in the game through my coaching role with the England Under 21 squad and share my learnings of high performing teams within business.

“Finally, I would like to thank Great Britain, England Hockey, the English Institute of Sport, the hockey community, friends and family for all the support and expertise they have provided both on and off the pitch.

“I am a happy, healthy and content person because of you all. I wish nothing but good luck to the new crop of players tasked with forging their own paths forward to international success.

“I’ll be cheering them on all the way.”

MacLeod returned to visit the St Ives Club after the Olympics last summer to show off her gold medal to young players.