Sam Ward: The hockey player who sustained the worst eye injury in the sport's history and returned!

Sam Ward is an English field hockey player who plays as a forward for the Old Georgians and the England and Great Britain national teams.

Ward has made over 140 appearances for his country and scored 83 goals, playing at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games and winning two bronze medals at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games.

However, his hockey career and life changed forever in a pre-Olympic qualifying match against Malaysia in November 2019 after he was hit with a ball in his left eye.

As Ward traveled across the face of the goal, his teammate Harry Martin hit a shot that smashed Ward in the left eye at 50mph, resulting in some serious facial damage.

The Great Britain forward suffered a shattered eye socket, seven facial fractures, and a torn retina. To repair the fractures without leaving a scar, doctors had to peel back his face from behind his ears.

Picture – Instagram @samuel_ward13

Ward was left with four metal plates in his cheek and 31 metal screws to match the 31 staples that wrapped across his head.

Picture – Instagram @samuel_ward13

His injuries were so severe that the BBC reported that Ward had been forced to retire because he had lost the majority of his sight in his left eye.

Picture – Instagram @samuel_ward13

According to thetelegraph.co.uk, in December 2019, Ward said: "If I can I can, if I can't I can't. I'd have to take it on the chin. I'm fit and healthy. I've got my limbs. I've got everything in life. I might not play hockey again."

Even Ward was convinced his hockey days were over, but with the help of Kate Warriner, a sports psychologist, he was able to slowly return to club action and then eventually international action.

The England international had to scrap and claw for everything he got in hockey, having never played internationally at youth level and working as a car salesman before having a stroke of luck and getting a call to train with England.

Yet again, Ward has proved the doubters wrong and got himself in shape to play international hockey again, returning to internationals in 2021 for the European Championships.

Upon his return to international hockey, Ward proved he was still one of the best forwards in the world, even with one eye, scoring six goals at the European Championships and finishing top scorer.

The forward completed his comeback after being selected to represent Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics, making the 16-man roster.

Despite the eye injury, Ward led Team GB to the quarter-final stages in Tokyo, leading the line with five goals despite failing to get a medal.

According to olympics.com, Ward said: "I'm probably wired even more differently. You would probably say I'm just a bit stupid really. Getting back on the pitch was massive."

Ward has medals at the Commonwealth Games, but his sights will be set on Paris 2024 as he looks to turn his remarkable comeback into something even more special, an Olympic medal.