Naomi Carroll is part of the squad of 16 that has been named to represent Ireland in the Women's Hockey tournament at Tokyo 2020, but from experience knows that it is "exceptionally tough" for those who did not make the cut.
The squad which qualified for the Olympics for the first time in November 2019 will be supplemented by three travelling reserves, including a goalkeeper.
Ireland's Group A campaign gets underway on 24 July against South Africa, before further pool fixtures against Netherlands, Germany, India and Great Britain.
Carroll, who also represented Ireland at soccer and played women's Gaelic football and camogie, is now an integral part of Sean Dancer's Irish team as they look to make their mark in Tokyo.
However, the Cratloe, Co Clare native is all too aware of what it's like not to be involved at a major tournament. She was absent from the Irish squad that reached the World Cup final three years ago.
"In 2018, I was a non-travelling reserve," she told RTÉ's Game On. "It was bittersweet because I was incredibly proud of the girls and what they did over in London. And yet it was very tough, you questioned different things, you gave it a 100% at the time but a 100% wasn't good enough.
"It's different from playing GAA; you have your 15 players, five subs and the rest of the squad around. In hockey, you have the team and the few reserves that go abroad for tournaments. The rest of the squad are at home."
Commenting further on the squad selection for Tokyo, Carroll was at pains to stress the collective and that many not going did play their part in helping Ireland to qualify.
"It's exceptionally tough. There's a squad of 31, but the Olympics is different to any other competition in that you can only bring 16 and three reserves. I've been on both sides myself, having being left out, and then making it. It's heartbreaking being left out.
"For those of us selected for this tournament it is important to remember that it is a squad of 31 and everybody has played such a huge part to get here, even those that are not involved at the minute. Those that have created a pathway in the years gone by."
