Of these world-class victories, she says, “I never think about success being about winning medals. It’s about how you can make a real difference in people’s lives and it’s that opportunity to create impact.”
“Juliet Haslam starred when she dived full length to steer the ball into the back of the net giving Australia a comfortable break over a stubborn opposition.”
This is how The Advertiser described Haslam in action at the 1992 Olympic Games. It was followed by Hockeyroos coach Brian Glencross’s assessment: “Juliet’s desperation goal is the type of commitment we need.”
Classy, game-saving, game-winning skills from Juliet Haslam was the way she worked, playing highly influential roles in successive Olympic gold medal campaigns at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. Haslam at the peak of her considerable powers.
The headline act for any athlete is the Olympic Games, especially gold-medal winning Games, but there’s substantially more in Haslam’s resumé.
She also has five Champions Trophy gold medals, two World Cup golds and Commonwealth Games gold. Clearly, anything made of gold holds a sizeable incentive for this woman.
From a young hockey player, elevated to the senior grades early, she would catch a bus from school hockey training to club training, carrying her school bag, sports bag and hockey stick.
Even as a youngster, her respected former club coach Val Nairn says, Juliet innately understood positioning and was never overwhelmed by the game’s situation. “She always had time with the ball,” Nairn says.
“Before receiving the ball, she knew what to do with it.”
Like Alison Peek, Nairn described Juliet as unassuming, very coachable and hated losing.
Above all else, the quality of leadership is perhaps Juliet Haslam’s most striking quality, recognised early when appointed captain of the SA state team at just 21. She also co-captained the Hockeyroos.
She has a clear intellect, is generous towards others, naturally strategic in thinking, develops quality relationships, and possesses a serious work ethic. These have been called upon in the sum of nine years’ service as a Hockey SA and Hockey Australia board member. Perhaps to be chosen as the Head of AFLW at her beloved Port Adelaide Football Club exemplified more than anything her modern leadership capacity.
Of her sporting successes, her perspective is expressed this way, “I never think about success being about winning medals. It’s about how you can make a real difference in people’s lives and it’s that opportunity to create impact.”
Juliet Haslam was inducted into the Hockey Australia Hall of Fame in 2021 and the SA Sport Hall of Fame in 2010.
