Caitlin Foord said that she was “excited” and “happy” after being named in the 18-player squad to represent the CommBank Matildas at Paris 2024™ - but was looking forward to a short break.
The Arsenal forward caused some concern when she was forced off the field in match one of the ‘Til It’s Done Farewell series with a hamstring injury. Head Coach Tony Gustavsson has downplayed the severity of the injury – explaining that his staff were being extremely cautious – and Foord suggested that the niggle was more down to fatigue than anything serious.
“It has been a long season, and to be fair, I’ve gotten through it pretty healthy, so I’ve been happy about that,” she reflected.
“And to pick up a little niggle now, it probably makes sense to put it down to a few things. I think my body’s just ready for a bit of rest. Just relaxing, going home, seeing family, before we get stuck into it over there, just switch off for a little bit.”
“We’re so used to having a schedule, so for me not to have that will be nice and no structure, maybe a day on the couch and that’s what it is. I don’t really have any plans, just going to take it day by day.”
As part of the group to have played at both Rio 2016™ and Tokyo 2020™, Foord said the team is using their previous experiences as fuel this time around.
“Every athlete going to the Olympics wants to obviously win silverware,” she explained.
“We have such a good group and I think we do deserve something to show for it as well. It almost feels like this is our kind of last opportunity with this group, with the core players. So yeah, it’s definitely going to be a driver.
“The last Olympics sticks pretty firm in my head, being so close and falling short. It’s about taking it one game at a time but yeah, of course it’s [winning a medal] in the back of your mind.”
Head Coach Tony Gustavsson had only recently signed on at the Tokyo Olympics, but has now been with the team for nearly four years. That consistency in approach, Foord said, can only help the team with their goals.
“We’ve built a lot,” she said, on Gustavsson’s tenure. “We’ve been to the Olympics, we’ve been to the World Cup, we’ve had those major tournaments and that experience. I think we’re going to be the best prepared, so it’s really exciting.”
Finally, she held that this Olympic Games was just as exciting as her first – and she couldn’t wait to get started.
“All of them are really special,” she said.
“In terms of being most prepared, this one’s different. But it’s as exciting as the first one, as special as the first one. I can’t wait to get going.”