Olympic gold medallist Lily Owsley is setting her sights on European Championship success as the prestigious hockey tournament prepares to return to English soil in 2027. The Bristol-born forward, who played a pivotal role in Team GB's historic women's hockey triumph at the Rio 2016 Olympics, views the upcoming competition as the perfect opportunity to crown her illustrious career.
A Career Built on Golden Moments
The 31-year-old athlete already boasts an impressive collection of international honours. Owsley secured European Championship gold with England in 2015 when the tournament was last hosted in the United Kingdom. She followed this achievement with that memorable Olympic victory in Brazil the following year, helping Team GB secure their first-ever women's hockey gold medal.
More recently, Owsley added Commonwealth Games gold to her trophy cabinet during the Birmingham 2022 event. Now, with the announcement that the EuroHockey Championships will return to England in 2027, she has identified this as her potential career finale.
Dream Scenario for Career Finale
"To have a major tournament at home in London, the capital city, in a stadium like this, with all our friends and family, it's kind of a dream come true," Owsley revealed. The competition holds special significance as it will serve as the first qualification opportunity for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
"The fact we're going to have a Europeans in our country, and it'll be the first shot of qualification for the Olympics in LA, the build-up is going to be the dream ending for my career if things go well," she continued. "Olympic qualification is always difficult but having the chance to do it here feels written in the stars."
Passing the Torch to Younger Generation
Beyond personal achievement, Owsley expressed her desire to help younger teammates experience the same success she enjoyed early in her career. "I won early [at the Europeans] in my career, and I want the younger girls to experience that feeling too," she explained. "I'm desperate for others to be able to experience what I did."
Regarding her ambitions for the tournament, Owsley stated: "[The aim for the] European Championships will be a medal and for the Olympics, we'll take things step by step."
Tournament Details and Innovations
The EuroHockey Championships 2027 will take place between 28 July and 8 August, featuring twelve men's teams, twelve women's teams, and Hockey ID teams competing across multiple venues. The Pool games and quarterfinals will be hosted at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, while the semi-finals and finals will move to the iconic Twickenham Stoop.
This represents a significant innovation for the tournament, as the men's, women's and Hockey ID championships will all culminate on the same stage, with every final played at The Stoop. Innovative pitch technology will transform the famous rugby venue to accommodate hockey's specific requirements.
Commitment to Accessibility and Community
Former England and Great Britain captain Alex Danson-Bennett, now serving as England Hockey president, emphasised the tournament's accessibility focus. "What excites me most about EuroChamps27 is the commitment to making it genuinely accessible and affordable," she said. "This event is about opening the doors to hockey, giving more people the chance to experience our sport live, and showcasing just how exciting and inclusive it is."
Esther Britten, deputy director of major events at UK Sport, added: "We are extremely excited to work with our event hosting partners again to bring EuroChamps27 to England. This will be the first major international hockey event hosted here since the World Cup in 2018, and it represents a fantastic opportunity to showcase the sport at the highest level."
Tickets for EuroChamps27 will go on sale in spring 2026, with organisers promising pricing structures designed to reach as many communities as possible. The tournament promises to be the largest EuroHockey Championships ever staged, bringing world-class hockey back to English venues after nearly a decade.
