A SPAXTON couple were in tears when their their great niece's heroics carried Team GB's women's hockey team to gold in the Olympics.

Maddie Hinch, who was brought up in Somerset and attended school in Taunton, pulled off a string of world-class saves and then kept out every single shot in the penalty shoot out of the final against the Netherlands.

Phil and Pat Rodgers were on the edge of their sofa as they watched match-winner Maddie, aged 27, lead her side to a nail-biting victory after pulling back a last gasp equaliser in a 3-3 draw.

She was then shown checking inspirational comments on her water bottle and studying her opponents' style of play in a black book she keeps before blocking out the fancies Dutch in the shoot-out.

Mr Rodgers said: "We were in tears at the end - she was unbelievable.

"We're really proud of her, totally over the moon.

"We've been in close contact with her mum, Catherine, and keep sending her e-mails.

"We never imagined she'd get a gold medal when she was a baby or when we used to play with her on the swings in the park when she was young."

As a youngster Maddie's parents lived in Keinton Mandeville, in Somerset, where they owned a nursing home she used to work in as a teenager.

She was first persuaded to try hockey at King's College, where her PE teacher "thought she had a bit of ability stopping the ball".

Mr Rodgers added: "She was actually a late starter and didn't want to play in goal, but she was so good that they persevered with her.

"She's done so well because she's small and agile and can leap around a lot.

"She's very brave and has had a few injuries over the years."

Maddie, who studied sports science at Loughborough University after leaving King's, is off to play hockey in the Netherlands next season.

King's College headmaster Richard Biggs said: “Maddie is a very impressive international sports person and we’re proud that she’s a product of the school.

“She was always phenomenal at sport, but hockey was her main game.

“She worked extremely hard and was a lovely girl, very loyal and has been back a few times since she left.

“She’s good at keeping in touch and giving the odd coaching sessions here.

“King’s has traditionally been strong at rugby and cricket, so it’s great to have our first Olympic gold medallist.

Nick Gresswell, director of sport, said: “Maddie was a lovely young lady.

“She was a talented athlete all round, always very positive, very happy, an enthusiastic young lady.”

Mr Gresswell said Maddie inspired a lot of King’s students when they watched her in an international match.

“She stayed and spoke to all of them afterwards,” he added.

“She’s a wonderful ambassador for the sport.”

His eight-year-old daughter, Darcie, says she wants to be a hockey goalkeeper after watching Maddie.