OLDHAM’S Olympic gold medallist, Nicola White, has been given the honorary Freedom of the Borough.
Aged 28, the Great Britain hockey player became the youngest woman to receive the award.
She received this honour for winning gold in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and her efforts and inspiration she gives to the community.
Last night at the civic ceremony, White said: “It was a massive honour for me, I was so delighted that the council all agreed to reward all the efforts of my hockey success and the work I have done since, around the borough.
“The ceremony was great fun and a fantastic celebration with lots of important people from the borough being there.”
The former Hulme Grammar pupil is the sixth woman to receive the honour, however, she is the first to be named ‘Freewoman’ rather than Freeman.
A very very special honour today recieving freewoman of the borough #oldham Thank you @OldhamCouncil & everyone for you continued support!?? https://t.co/kvOU2sOrTI
— Nicola White OLY (@NicolaWhite28) November 9, 2016
Aaarrghhhh!!! Im officially "Honorary Freewoman of the Borough" #oldham THANK YOU for this incredible honour! #ambassador #inspire #proud ?? pic.twitter.com/6QJec8FZgi
— Nicola White OLY (@NicolaWhite28) November 9, 2016
At the ceremony she paid tribute to the rest of her team and sponsors, UK Sport and the National Lottery.
White started playing hockey and the age of seven and she spoke about how she has had her ups and downs, along with failures and knock backs.
She said: “It was difficult to keep believing that my time would come one day to show what I could do.
“I don’t think I ever believed I could win an Olympic gold medal at that age, it was purely something I wished I could have.
“You should always remember where you’ve come from and for me I have great memories growing up around Shaw and this is where my dream to become an Olympic champion started.”
The double Olympic medal winner spoke about her plans for the future and in the short term she plans to continue defending the European title in 2017.
“Our next big focus, as a team is going for gold in the World Cup in 2018, which we are hosting in London!”
Watch the ceremony on the video below:
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