Livermore Moves On From Stroke Of Misfortune
Sun Herald
Sunday June 20, 2004
THE fact that Brent Livermore doesn't mind discussing his darkest hour in international hockey is testament to how much work the Kookaburras star has done to deal with it.
Flash back four years and you might remember Livermore having a penalty stroke saved during a penalty shoot-out in the semi-final against the Netherlands.
It was a moment that put the Kookaburras out of contention for their first Olympic gold medal.
A year later, after playing a season in Europe, Grafton-born Livermore returned to the Sydney pitch where the disaster occurred.
``I went back there and reflected on what had happened," he said before leaving for a national team camp in Perth yesterday.
``But it's funny because that same sort of situation has presented itself a few times over the past Olympiad.
``I've worked alongside our team psychologist, who really helped out. You can't close it out, you've just got to deal with it."
Enough said. Time to move on.
Livermore is almost certain to be part of the 16-man Kookaburras Olympic squad to be announced in Perth on Wednesday.
A core group of 19 players returned last week from an arduous European tour, which included playing in Belgium on the same soft, spongy surface that the players will encounter in Athens.
At the group's centre was Livermore, who has played in 24 of the Kookaburras' 25 Tests this year.
The squad leaves for Athens on August 1. Before that, there will be a training camp in Perth that will include a heat chamber program. Then they go to Darwin for more valuable training in hot conditions.
Also included in the preparations are Test series against South Korea and New Zealand.
© 2004 Sun Herald