The International Hockey Federation has named Tauranga 19 year old Gemma Flynn in its world hockey all star team for 2009.
Gemma is the only New Zealander to make the women's team and says it came as a big surprise.
'I didn't really expect this – I was so surprised to get this so soon.”

Former Tauranga Girls' College student Gemma Flynn is one of the best mid-fielders in world hockey.

Gemma is relatively new to the New Zealand women's hockey team, the Black Sticks. She was initially selected for the side in 2007 after first attending a trial for the team in 2006. It was a steep learning curve for Gemma making the Black Sticks at just 17 years of age.
'When I first made the team, I was youngest and the senior players really taught me a lot.”
But when an Australian coach took over the Black Sticks in 2009, many of the senior players left and now Gemma says she is among the more senior in the team – based on experience.
The former Tauranga Girls' College student was instrumental in the Black Sticks' successes in 2009, which included winning the Champions Challenge, held in South Africa in October. At this event she was named player of the tournament. Winning the event meant the Black Sticks qualified for the Champions Trophy tournament to be held in England this July. This adds to an already busy 2010, with the Black Sticks going to the World Cup in Argentina in September and the Commonwealth Games in India in October.
This makes for a hectic schedule and Gemma says studying her sport and exercise science degree concurrently is difficult.
'I love the travel, it's just so hard to study at the same time.”
To make things easier this year, Gemma is switching institution and is now studying extramurally through Massey University instead of with AUT.
Gemma is not afraid of hard work though and it is in this trait that she believes lies the secret of her success.
'I have worked really hard, been training hard and the work has paid off so far.”