Maartje Paumen

Maartje Paumen, born on September nineteenth, nineteen eighty-five, is a distinguished former Dutch field hockey player who has made significant contributions to the sport. Currently, she serves as the assistant coach for the Dutch club MOP, sharing her extensive knowledge and experience with the next generation of players. Throughout her illustrious career, Paumen played for notable clubs including Oranje Zwart, HC Den Bosch, and Royal Antwerp in Belgium.

Paumen's prowess on the field was most evident during her time with the Netherlands national team, where she was instrumental in securing two Women's Hockey World Cup titles in two thousand six and two thousand fourteen. Her remarkable scoring ability is highlighted by her record of one hundred ninety-five goals in two hundred thirty-five games, making her the all-time top scorer for the Dutch national team and in the Hoofdklasse, the national Dutch hockey league.

Her Olympic journey is equally impressive; she won a gold medal at the two thousand eight Summer Olympics in Beijing, defeating China in the final. She successfully defended her title at the two thousand twelve Summer Olympics in London, scoring the second goal in a two-zero victory over Argentina. With fourteen goals across her Olympic appearances, she holds the record as the top Olympic scorer in history. In the two thousand sixteen Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, she earned a silver medal after a heartbreaking loss to Great Britain in penalty shootouts.

In addition to her Olympic success, Paumen was the top scorer at both the two thousand ten and two thousand fourteen Women's Hockey World Cups. Her exceptional talent and contributions to the sport have been recognized with the prestigious FIH Player of the Year award in two thousand eleven and two thousand twelve. Off the field, Paumen is openly lesbian, further adding to her role as a trailblazer in sports.