Toowoomba's Aleisha Neumann Shines as Hockey Umpire at Paris 2024 Olympics
Sport
7 days ago
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It is well known that athletes representing their country on the Olympic or Paralympic stage is the accumulation of years, or even decades, of hard work and dedication.
However, it is less well known that the umpires, officials and technical delegates that bring Olympic and Paralympic competition to life are also often life-long dreams being realised, away from the bright lights of the media and Athlete Village.
Queenslander Aleisha Neumann is one such individual living out her Olympic dream, as the 34-year-old was one of only 14 female hockey umpires in the world to officiate the women’s hockey competition at Paris 2024.
Like many sporting officials, Aleisha’s umpiring career started while she was playing club hockey in her hometown of Toowoomba.
"Both of my parents played hockey and while they didn’t steer me into the sport, there were just some sticks in the shed and I would whack the ball around the backyard," Aleisha said of her first introduction to the sport.
"I went to a clinic in a shopping centre that my club was organising and fell in love with it from there."
She began playing hockey at just eight years old for the local club team, stepping onto a path that would later lead her to represent her hometown and, eventually, her country, with a dream of officiating at a home Olympic Games in Brisbane in 2032.
Inspired by her parents’ philosophy of giving back to the community, Aleisha took her first steps into umpiring in her mid-teens.
"My parents' theory was that if you played, you should volunteer your time back to the club and the association and umpire."
This ethos saw her contributing to younger players' games, even as she continued her athletic development, allowing her to hone her understanding of the game from all perspectives.
Aleisha's umpiring career quickly soared, and she got her first representation honours while still a teenager.
"I was asked if I wanted to umpire a state carnival, and I thought that was pretty cool to go away on a free holiday, and then the same sort of thing happened when I got an email asking if I wanted to go to nationals, and it kicked off from there."
ID: Aleisha Neumann is wearing a blue t-shirt and black skirt, smiling at the camera. Credit: Hockey Australia
From state carnivals to her first Olympic Games at Tokyo in 2021 - Aleisha was one of five Australian hockey officials on the sidelines of the Paris 2024 Olympics, alongside Josh Burt (Technical Delegate), Adam Webster (Technical Official), Tammy Standley (Technical Official) and fellow Queenslander, Ipswich’s Steve Rogers (Umpire).
Aleisha said she felt “an incredible amount of pride” when the FIH International Hockey Federation selected her for a second Olympic competition.
“There’s lots of players going in each team but there’s only one female umpire from Australia heading over there, so that’s pretty special,” she said. “I’m lucky enough to still train in the [Brisbane] athlete high-performance program for my fitness and conditioning and playing, and those girls all get around it and think it’s pretty cool which is nice.”
ID: Aleisha Neumann, wearing a black t-shirt and skirt, is standing on a hockey pitch with her arms in a T position, and a whistle in her hand. Credit: Hockey Australia
Looking ahead to a home Games in eight years’ time, Aleisha said it would be a dream come true to be umpiring at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, but even if she wasn’t running up the sidelines of the pitch, being involved in any capacity would be an incredible experience.
“I’m young enough that I could still be umpiring. The international retirement age for hockey umpires is 46, so I wouldn’t quite be there yet,” she said.
“If I was to get [to Brisbane 2032], it could be the dream story of a fourth Olympics if I also got to LA.
“But if I wasn’t on the field umpiring, I’m definitely keen to be at the venue somewhere as a volunteer, whether it’s ushering people to their seats or liaising with teams and just enjoying the best of sport at any level.
“If you got a ticket to any sport, you’re watching the very best in the world do what they do, and that always brings an amazing atmosphere and a fun viewing experience, so I can’t wait!”
Aleisha started her hockey umpiring career as a volunteer at the Toowoomba Hockey Association. Volunteers are the backbone of sporting clubs right around Australia. Hear more from Aleisha and others in Hockey Queensland about the important legacy volunteers are leaving for 2032 and beyond.
Images courtesy of
Hockey Australia
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