Sporting icons : Ric Charlesworth: the glittering career of Aussie hockey meastro & video

 




Ric Charlesworth is a former Australian field hockey player and a highly successful coach. Born on February 6, 1952, he played for the Australian national team from 1972 to 1988, earning 227 caps. Charlesworth was known for his exceptional skills and versatility, playing both as a forward and a midfielder.


After retiring as a player, Ric Charlesworth transitioned to coaching. He guided the Australian women's hockey team to numerous victories, including three consecutive Olympic gold medals in 1996, 2000, and 2004. His coaching philosophy emphasized fitness, skill development, and strategic play.


Charlesworth also coached the Australian men's team, contributing to their success in various tournaments. His coaching expertise extended beyond hockey, as he also worked in cricket, serving as a selector and coach.


His significant impact on Australian hockey and sports, in general, has earned Ric Charlesworth recognition and respect, making him a prominent figure in the history of field hockey.


Apart  from hockey  he was also a fine cricketer for Western Australia and came close to Test selection during the late 1970s 


Highlights:


General Order of Australia (AO) 2016


Australian Institute of Sport Men's Hockey coach to the Kookaburras


Technical Advisor to India Hockey


High Performance Manager to NZ Cricket


Doctor of Medicine


High performance Consultant with Fremantle Dockers Football team


Captain of Australian Hockey team, WA State Hockey team


Captain of WA State Cricket team


Federal Member of Parliament (Perth) for 10 years


Coach of Australian Womens Hockey team April 1993 to Sydney 2000. During this time the team won 4 Champions Trophies, 2 World Cup's, 2 Gold Olympic medals & 1 Gold Commonwealth Games medal.


FIH Master Coach 2000


Played 227 games for Australian Hockey team including 4 Olympic (5 including Moscow boycott) and 4 World Cup tournaments. He was a gold medallist and player of the World Cup Tournament in 1986 and silver medallist at the 1976 Olympics.


8 years in State cricket including one year as Captain.


Mentor coach to 5 Australian Institute of Sport coaches


 

Awards:


Officer of the Order of Australia 1987 (AM)


Western Australian Sportsman of the Year 1976, 1979, 1987


Sport Australia Hall of Fame - Inductee 1987


Order of Australia 1987 AM


2015 Life Member Hockey Australia 


Australian Coaching Council Team Coach of the Year 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000


Confederation of Australian Sport Coach of the Year 1996, 1997 & 2000


WA Sports Champions of the Year Awards - WA Coach of the Year 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2010 & 2014


Citizen of Western Australia Award 2002


Honorary Doctorate of Science University of Western Australia 2002


2005 selected WA Greatest Ever Hockey Player


2005 selected WA Greatest Ever Coach


2008 inductee to the inaugural Hockey Australia Hall of Fame


AIS Coach of the Year 2010


WAIS Sport Legend 2013


Life Member Hockey WA 2014


AIS World Class Contribution 2014


Federation International Hockey (FIH) Inaugural Coach of the Year 2014



As a cricketer, Charlesworth was a dogged left-hand batsman and brilliant fields-man, representing WA 47 times from 1972-79 scoring 2327 runs with a highest score of 101 not out. He captained WA four times.


An opening batsman for Western Australia - he was a member of Sheffield Shield winning teams in1972-73, 1976-77, 1977-78 - who came close to a Test cap during the era of World Series Cricket,


In the below video , watch his breathtaking goal vs USSR in the 1986 World cup Hockey semi final.  Showing great stick work skills he pulled off a brilliant solo goal 

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