Paris 2024: Jacob Draper doubling down on podium finish after Tokyo 2020 disappointment - 'Rectify some of the wrongs'
BySportsbeat
Updated 21/06/2024 at 17:00 GMT
Jacob Draper is heading to his second Olympic Games this summer in Paris, having made his Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games. The 25-year-old spoke about the lessons he has learnt from the last Olympic Games three years ago, and says the main focus will be on securing a gold medal in the French capital this summer.
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Jacob Draper says he's shaken off his naivety and is doubling down on a podium finish at Paris 2024.
Draper rose through the GB ranks quickly to make his Olympic debut in Tokyo, where a premature quarter-final exit hit him hard.
The 25-year-old believes he has matured in the intervening years.
"Being in Tokyo wasn't something I expected," said Draper. "I was just happy to be there, I was happy to take everything in and reflecting on it, I didn't really go in with the right mentality.
"We were there to do a job and bring back a medal, but I think I was being slightly naive.
"It was my first Games and there's nothing to compare it to, it's such a big event.
"Experience has taught me differently. We crashed out in the quarter-finals, which was really hard and took me two or three years to get over.
"It wasn't a nice experience and something that has provided fuel so that we can go to Paris in the summer and rectify some of the wrongs."
The men's squad features a mix of youth and experience, with seven men set to make their Olympic debuts in the French capital.
Skipper David Ames and striker Sam Ward will represent Team GB for the third time.
Head coach Paul Revington has overseen a transformation in the team, instilling an attacking philosophy and leading England to the final of the EuroHockey Championships.
Draper compared Revington's animated touchline manner to iconic former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
"Revs is somebody who wears his emotions on his sleeve," said Draper. "It does motivate you when you're playing when you've got this guy on the sidelines who is this energy ball.
"He's like Klopp with his presence on the touchline. It fills you with confidence and I can't thank him enough for the two years we've had."
Draper is one of over 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport's National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing them to train full time, have access to the world's best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support that this is vital for his pathway to the Paris 2024 Games.
Team GB begin their campaign against Spain on July 27, with reigning world champions Germany and reigning European champions Netherlands looming large in Group A.
The pool also features France and South Africa, with the top four sealing progression to the quarter-finals.
All games will be played at the refurbished Stade Yves-du-Manoir - the only venue that will have featured at both the 2024 and 1924 Games, having hosted the athletics a century ago.
"It's about gold for us," said Draper. "A medal would be lovely but to say that's all we want would be doing ourselves a disservice. The top five teams are good enough to beat anyone, and we're one of them.
"We need to just make sure we put in consistent performances in the tournament and then here we go."
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