An Olympic Games appearance is the pinnacle for any athlete. Representing your country on the world stage is often the main career ambition and an opportunity that the majority of sportsmen and women strive for.

But what happens when, despite the lifelong hard work, you're snubbed for selection?

During her childhood, Amie Hone's parents both played hockey and subsequently, the Northamptonshire-born player first picked up the sticks at around the age of four or five. 

Hone's hockey career has seen her compete at a county, national and international level, having represented Buckingham, St Albans HC and most recently Northampton Saints HC. During this period, she's been named in the National League East Conference team of the year three times and also helped St Albans HC secure Division 1 promotion earlier this year.

Amongst her success for county, Hone, like most top athletes, had dreams of representing Great Britain and was invited to a Tokyo 2020 selection camp. During the camp, athletes are chosen to be placed on strategic development programme which aims to accelerate the development of future medal-winning Olympians.

She wasn't awarded a place on the development programme due to her age, which ended her hopes of playing for Team GB at an Olympic Games and left her feeling defeated.

"I had been training so hard for this and living the life of an athlete was all I knew. To have all of that suddenly taken away from me, left me feeling completely lost with absolutely nothing to focus on," Amie tells GiveMeSportWomen. 

Despite the deep disappointment, Hone wasn't going to let the Olympics snub end her athletic career. She describes the gym as her "happy place, sort of like a second home", and therefore continued to train beyond the frustration of missing out on a chance at Tokyo.

Hone had always been interested in bodybuilding and teased with the idea of competing but had never given it her full attention. After the selection camp, the now 30-year-old realised she needed a new focus or goal and wanted to compete in a different variety of competition whilst being able to continue hockey at a county level. Although she was ready to give her all in training, Hone tells me that she never expected success.

"When I decided I was going to compete in [bodybuilding], I [didn't know I] would then continue to pursue a career in the sport!" she explains.

Despite only competing for the past two years, Hone has already achieved a glittering competitor record.

"I am so happy with what I have achieved in that short period of time," says Hone.

And so she should be, having qualified for the British and World Championships that take place next year - a moment she calls a career highlight.

She goes onto explain that she has recently begun a new training and nutrition plan that's been put into place by her coach whom she dubs as "fantastic".

Hone recognises her sponsors, G&P Supplements, for their support during her short time as a competitor. 

"Without their continued help, support and access to fantastic products, I wouldn't have achieved what I have done so far in my bodybuilding career," she says.

Looking to the future, Hone continues to play hockey for Northampton Saints HC whilst training to develop her career as a bodybuilder. She is already working in preparation for next year's British and World Championships that, coincidentally, take place just a month before Tokyo 2020 kicks off.

"I’m so excited to see what next year will bring," she tells.

Amongst her newfound success it's easy to forget that just a few years ago, Hone was left lost with nothing to focus on amid her Olympic snub. The strongest of athletes are left struggling when dropped in a similar situation, yet Hone has pulled herself out of an undeniable career-low slump with resilience, humility and spirit in the most admirable fashion.