OLYMPICS LONDON 2012: Walsh happy with Glastonbury feel from Riverbank fans

By Paul Smith, Sportsbeat, London 2012

GREAT Britain women's hockey captain Kate Walsh has likened performing in front of a home crowd at London 2012 to the sensation enjoyed on stage by a rock star at Glastonbury.

Walsh, who suffered a horrific jaw injury, helped her side win Olympic bronze and praised the support of the British public, particularly those who packed out the Riverbank Arena.

Defeat to Argentina in the semi-final put paid to hopes of a gold medal, but Walsh helped her side regroup to ensure third-place with a 3-1 victory over New Zealand in the bronze-medal match.

ROCKSTAR: Kate Walsh, who suffered a terrible jaw injury, has likened the home support to the Glastonbury festival

"We had given everything for the gold medal and once that dream had gone we had to re-assess," said 32-year-old Walsh.

"We then set the target that without doubt we would be going for that bronze with everything we had, and it's great to have a medal around our necks.

"In that stadium it was like a cauldron of noise, it was just the most amazing atmosphere.

"I don't know what it's like to be a rock star, standing on the stage at Glastonbury, but I imagine it would be like that.

"It was a wall of sound that just lifted you and gave you energy, and hopefully that translated onto TV and made the hockey better."

© Sportsbeat 2012