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Wales' champion long jumper and hockey goalkeeper

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In a world of multi-sport athletes you may have got used to seeing sprinters turn their hands to bobsleigh, rugby stars who have tried their hand at American football and para-swimmers swapping the pool for a track cycling bike.

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But have you heard the one about the hockey goalkeeper who is also a champion long-jumper?

Meet Amy Hughes as she heads to India with Wales' hockey team aiming to qualify for this summer's Hockey World Cup.

The 21-year-old became the Welsh indoor long jump champion in February with a personal best leap of 6.31m.

Two weeks later she furthered her all-time mark with a jump of 6.39m.

Now her attention swaps back to the hockey pitch with Wales.

"It's something I've really enjoyed," she told BBC Sport Wales.

"I've always wanted to play for Wales, it's definitely always been my dream to represent Wales at some sort of sport.

"So to get there with hockey has been great."

The women face a tough pool with fixtures against Scotland, Uruguay and India.

Should Wales qualify, they would make their first World Cup appearance since 1983.

"It would be a dream for all of us to go out there and prove to everyone we can do it and get into a World Cup," added Hughes.

Having represented Wales at the Junior World Cup in December 2025, Hughes is hoping her experiences will stand her in good stead.

The team headed to the 24-team tournament, ranked 20th in the world, but belied their ranking to finish 14th.

"It felt we were part of something special," said Hughes.

"When I was playing my hockey in Chile, I was having the best time.

"I was relaxed and enjoying what I was doing, and that made it so much easier for me to put out big saves, and make big performances when it mattered."

An inspired display against South Africa saw her keep a clean sheet and win player of the match.

"I felt like everything I'd worked for was finally being seen by everyone and it was great to work hard for the team and keep a clean sheet for them," added Hughes.

Combining sporting talents

Hughes admits she was "always sporty" and her environment at school allowed her to combine her passions.

"I stopped doing gymnastics when I was 12 or 13 just because I had lots and lots of injuries and I was always quick, so I got into [athletics]," she explained.

"I took up sports at school so we did hockey and netball.

"I was about 14 or 15 when they were like 'We don't have a goalkeeper, do you want to go in goal?'

"Being competitive, I didn't want my team to lose, so kind of hopped in there.

"I've been doing athletics since I was about 11 but it was heptathlon for a little while, then I specialised into long jump when I was 14, so similar timeframes."

Hughes says her long jump coach Phil Warwicker has been very patient with her desire to compete at both sports.

"Long jump has always kind of taken a back seat but my coach has been so supportive, so great at letting me have the time off to compete both," said Hughes.

"We're finally seeing the rewards and I can do both.

"After last year, the British Universities and Colleges Sport [BUCS] bronze and medalling at a couple of championships, it has proven to me I can definitely compete at both."

February's Welsh Indoor Championships saw her fourth-round jump take the senior crown.

"I've dreamed of being Welsh champion so to do it at home in my home training track at the NIAC [National Indoor Athletics Centre] was great," she said.

"I knew the big jumps were coming in training, it was just a point of executing them, and making sure I went out and performed to my best.

"I've been second at the junior champs more times than I can remember and once at the seniors so to finally get gold meant a lot to me."

If the day ever comes where Hughes has to make a decision about which sport she has to choose to continue over the other, she is in no doubt about how she will make up her mind.

She said: "Whichever one I'm enjoying the most or succeeding the most in at that time, but at the moment they both seem to be going well."

Wales World Cup programme

Women's qualifying pool fixtures

8 March Scotland v Wales (11:45 GMT)

9 March Uruguay v Wales (11:45 GMT)

11 March India v Wales (14:00 GMT)

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