Former Hockyroos Captain Sandy Pisani Passes Away

Olympian and former Australian women's hockey captain Sandy Pisani has died.

Pisani passed away in her hometown of Adelaide aged 63 after a four-year battle with cancer.

A dual Olympian who represented Australia from 1981 to 1988, Pisani was a member of the Hockeyroos team that won Australia's first ever Hockey Olympic Gold Medal at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 when they defeated South Korea 2-0.

Pisani's long-term partner, Mike Turtur, and daughter, Elli, released a statement, explaining she was surrounded by her loving family when she died.

"Sandy has fought tirelessly and in true competitive spirit for more than two years until her very last breath," the statement read.

"She loved her family and friends with great passion and heart, fiercely loyal and feisty, compassionate, and kind, we will cherish all of our special memories and times shared in our hearts forever.

"We appreciate the love and support bestowed upon us by our family, close friends and both the hockey and cycling fraternity at this incredibly difficult time."

The mother and partner represented Australia on 105 occasions, captaining the Australian women's hockey team, the Hockeyroos, from 1985 to 1986 before retiring in 1989.

She received the Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to the sport of hockey that same year.

Pisani's involvement continued as National Head Selector with Hockey Australia from 1993 to 2000, a time when the Hockeyroos won two Gold Medals; one at 1996 Barcelona and the other at 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Pisani's achievements didn't stop there, being made a Life Member of Hockey South Australia before also being inducted into the South Australian Sport Hall of Fame in 2015.

Hockey South Australia also released a statement said it was deeply saddened by her passing.

Topics: Australia, Sandy Pisani