There isn’t a single member of the hockey ecosystem who wouldn’t want to participate in the Olympic Games: players, coaches, referees, officials... It’s the biggest celebration of sports in the world, and being there is magical, regardless of the position, role, or outcome.
For the American countries, three teams participated: Argentina, in both women's and men's categories, and the United States in the women's category.
Las Leonas (Argentina's women's team) have an impressive record in this competition: since Sydney 2000, they have always been on the Olympic podium except for Rio 2016. They have accumulated six medals in seven Games, with the latest, a bronze, won in this edition after defeating Belgium in shoot-outs.
The U.S. women's team returned to the Olympic stage after their absence from Tokyo 2020 (2021) and finished in 9th place. However, their focus is undoubtedly on the next stop: Los Angeles 2028, where they will be the hosts.
On the men's side, the feeling for the Argentine team was undoubtedly bitter. In the quarterfinals, they faced the reigning world champion, and after a back-and-forth match, they ended up losing 3-2. The dream ended early, and due to their placement in the group stage, they finished in 8th place.
But beyond the most prominent participants, the players, there were more Americans involved in this event, and although they don't score goals and their work is often quieter, they are important and experience it in a special way.
Trinidad and Tobago didn't qualify, but they did have a representative. Through Ayanna McClean, this nation was present. She began officiating officially at the Youth Olympic Games in 2010, but it wasn’t until 11 years later, in Tokyo, that she could be part of the main event. “The Olympic Games will always be the greatest and best achievement of my career. When I received the email naming me for my second games, Paris 2024, the initial feeling was the same overwhelming disbelief followed by euphoria. I really couldn’t have dreamed of this when I started my career as a referee. Coming from the country I do, this wasn’t in the plan; it never seemed possible to end up here,” McClean said.
Soledad Iparraguirre made her debut as a referee in 2001. She has officiated in four Olympic Games. However, Paris 2024 was her first as an Umpire Manager, a role with significant responsibility: “My tasks include appointing referees, evaluating them, giving them feedback, maintaining a close relationship with the technical delegate who approves the appointments, and managing 10 months of pre-games meetings online. This time, four Managers were appointed for 28 referees, without gender distinction. This meant that to watch all the referees, which I understand was the fairest thing to do, we had to watch many games per day: of the 74 games, I watched 60,” the experienced judge detailed about her work.
Additionally, Soledad said: “It’s a really demanding event because there are many things to attend to, not just the referees but also the coaches, the technology like the use of radios, the video ref, etc. You have to know the protocols very well. For example, coaches send you videos all the time by email, and you have to respond to them every day. Managing the television coverage is really complicated; I don’t think it’s comparable to a World Cup. It’s something unique for those who love the sport, and I think being appointed is an honor and a privilege for which I will always be grateful.”
Gabriel Labate is another Argentine who participated, but for him, it was his debut in this competition: “It’s an immense joy. For me, it was fulfilling a dream for which I worked and put in a lot of effort; I feel complete happiness,” explained the man who officiated on the field. However, the magnitude of the event also means that all eyes are on you. When asked what was the most difficult, Labate responded: “From the moment I learned of my appointment until the Games arrived, there were 10 months of work, but also of anxiety. In the tournament, the most complex thing is the pressure because you know there is no margin for error, especially from the quarterfinals onward, where teams play for everything, and if they lose, they go home. You have to know how to handle it, and that’s something you learn over the years. The important thing is that the pressure doesn’t distract you from what you have to do on the field.” His composure is what brought him to Paris.
In the end, it takes two to tango. In hockey, we could say at least three; it’s not just the two teams, but also the referees and officials needed to complete the dance. That’s why we celebrate all the American presence at the biggest sports celebration: the players, the referees, and also the authorities who made it all possible.
