The Hannah Martin going for gold at Birmingham 2022 is a very different person physically and mentally to the one who was preparing for her last multi-sport Games.

The Ipswich hockey star fought back from a broken leg and ankle ligament damage just four months before last summer’s Tokyo Olympics to stand on the podium as a bronze medallist. 

She is now shining at a second Commonwealth Games, the last one on the Gold Coast also producing bronze, but will hope for a smoother ride this time. 

“It was a huge setback and I had setback after setback with little injuries before, but I think I've learned how to take a setback as an opportunity as well and how I can develop in other areas,” she said. 

“Watch a lot of videos, do more strength work on other parts of my body, making sure I'm robust enough when I come back and play eight games in 13 days in 40-degree heat.  

“I always saw it as an opportunity to still be very much up there physically and it makes you really appreciate the time you do have on the field even more, which I think is really important.  

“And that's why out there in Tokyo I just tried to enjoy every second and just play with freedom.” 

The 27-year-old feels well and truly at home as she returns to the city where she went to university. 

Martin represented the University of Birmingham during her time as a student before making her senior international debut in 2017. 

She became the second member of her family to represent England in hockey following in the footsteps of older brother Harry who also claimed bronze with the men’s team in 2018. 

Martin added: “It feels amazing, being able to compete at Birmingham where I went to university makes it doubly special. 

“I absolutely loved my experience out on the Gold Coast with Team England and I've loved this Games too.

“We've got an incredibly exciting team, lots of new talent coming in but still some experienced heads.

“I had just the most incredible three years there, it's a huge part of my hockey development and me as a person as well. I’m always incredibly excited to get out there and we have had some good old Brummie support.” 

The women’s hockey side have successfully evolved from the team that won gold at Rio 2016, with fresh faces aplenty they prepare for a summer with a World Cup and Commonwealth Games. 

Despite the new nature of the team, Martin is positive about what is possible as Team England search for a first Commonwealth gold medal in the sport. 

“We're definitely aiming for gold, I think you would be silly not to, and we've got hugely talented team, and I'm really excited about where we can go,” Martin said. 

“Obviously, it's still quite early days. It's funny because the Olympics got postponed and within a year, you've got two major tournaments in a summer, what an amazing opportunity, but also, you're still gelling together as a team.

“We've all come from different parts, a few of us have been out in Holland, a few people have been working or studying, so coming together again, full time, it's been amazing. 

“There's so much good energy around the group, so many people bring lots of different strengths and I'm just really excited to see what we can do."