As a 15-year-old, Sophie Devine had two options after tests revealed she had diabetes: continue with her love for sport, or stop living a life she desired. Only a week later, a call was made. She entered the hockey field to play for her local club.
Ten years since, the New Zealander has not only fulfilled her dream of playing sport at the highest level, but also lived it twice. Sophie has represented her country both in hockey and cricket, and was part of the White Ferns team for the World T20.
Setting foot on a sporting field looked a far-fetched possibility for her when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, let alone stepping out on two of them.
"It was a really confusing and conflicting time for me, because I didn't know anything about diabetes," Devine told dna. "I guess it was a massive learning curve not only for me but my entire family and friends, trying to come to grips with that. But my parents were never going to let me stop doing anything. They pushed me further to keep playing sport, make sure nothing changes and I could still go and do everything that I couldn't just because I had diabetes and I had to carry my insulin around. It wasn't going to stop me."
It didn't stop her, in fact, it made her more determined. She focused a majority of her growing up days on hockey and cricket, never wanting to compromise on either. In 2006, she first got an international cricket call-up, before she became part of the Black Sticks too in 2009. She excelled in both the sports at the highest level, before a time came for her to let go of one.
"It was probably prior to the London Olympics in 2012, where I knew myself and also from the coaching staff in hockey that I needed to make a decision and commit myself to one sport 100 per cent. I wasn't doing myself justice in the time I was spending jumping between the two sports.
"So a decision was made to give up cricket, which for me was really tricky because I played cricket my whole life. So to not be playing that in the summer was weird," she said.
And though she didn't make the Olympics squad, Devine doesn't regret the choice. She last played hockey at the highest level in 2011, switching to cricket completely post that. The 26-year-old earned a professional contract from New Zealand Cricket in 2013, in which she not only had to play, but also coach and promote women's cricket among schools in her country. She, however, still remains attached to her passion.
"I still play hockey back home at the domestic level. It's just such a nice release for me, to get away from a cricket pitch. I'm pretty sure when I get back from India, I'm straight back to club hockey that weekend," Devine said.
Not just hockey, she will also be back to Diabetes Youth New Zealand (DYNZ), an organisation that provides support to children with diabetes. Devine is a proud ambassador of that.
"It's one message that I love to share to people, that nothing should stop you from doing anything. The time I spend in DYNZ is very rewarding, just going back and sharing stories and to see the look on young faces when they say 'Oh, I can still go for runs, or play basketball'. It's really awesome for me to see that," she said.
And even as she inspires children back home with her story of resilience, Devine admits she experiences moments of self-doubt even now.
"Pretty much straight after my diagnosis, I thought my career was gone. I thought I would never play any sport again. That was really scary.
"Even now, I have moments where it can get a bit overpowering, the emotion of having to have this condition for the rest of my life. But I think about it and say, 'Jeez, there could've been a lot worse that could be wrong with me'. So I'm really blessed and thankful that I can still move around, can still play sport," she said.
Not one, but two.
KNOW DEVINE
Full name: Sophie Frances Monique Devine
Born: September 1, 1989; Wellington
International hockey career: 2009-2011
Position: Fullback
International cricket career: 2006-present
Role: Right-hand bat, right-arm medium pace
* The 2016 World T20 is Devine's fifth appearance in ICC World T20, and she is now the vice-captain of the White Ferns
* Her innings of 70 from 22 balls against India in Bengaluru in July 2015 set a new record for the fastest fifty in women's T20I (off 18 balls)
She never wears a helmet…and here's why
At a time when the tragic death of Phil Hughes has raised questions about the safety of helmets, Sophie Devine is one of the rare players who has never worn a helmet on the cricket field. "I do get a little bit of stick about it, and asked a lot more. For me, it's just a personal choice. I strongly recommend young kids playing to wear a helmet. But I just don't like the feel of wearing a helmet. I don't feel comfortable in it, and it sort of cranks me up a bit," she said.
