The South Australian player, who began her stint on country courts, has retired after 17 years. But her success is an inspiration for kids growing up in small communities hoping to pursue top level sport.
Growing up in a small country community, Natalie Medhurst is the first to admit her rise to elite level sport came as a surprise.She is remembered for her laid-back on-court styleLast week, the former Diamond, Commonwealth Games gold medallist and multi-time World Cup player announced her retirement from a professional netball career spanning 17 years.
"My parents ran the Somerset Hotel in Millicent so we also lived there . It was awesome, we loved it as kids, it was different home compared to most and my parents were incredibly busy," Medhurst said. "The fact the family made time to take me to the city for trials and competitions, those eight-hour trips, which they did for over two years … it was a huge effort by them, and I'm very grateful."Medhurst began her professional career in 2004 with the Adelaide Thunderbirds, before heading to the Queensland Firebirds in 2010, followed by stints with West Coast Fever and the Collingwood Magpies.
Medhurst represented Australia with the Diamonds on 86 occasions and went on to win three Netball World Cup gold medals, one Commonwealth Games gold medal, one Commonwealth Games silver medal and six Constellation Cup titles. "I think a lot of people don't realise that to make it to this level is a lot of hard work, luck and timing, and it's your ability to make that commitment," Medhurst said.
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