Mary Missed the Competition. Croquet Brought It Back.
A former squash star missed the thrill of competition after retiring. She found it with croquet. Discover how croquet can reignite your sporting passion
For anyone who has ever lived for sport, there eventually comes a time when the court, the field, or the track is left behind.
Life moves on, but the competitive fire never truly goes out.
For Mary McMahon, a lifelong squash player who had competed at the highest level, that spark was unexpectedly found in croquet.
After retiring, Mary found herself at a loose end. Like many who are used to a life of activity and purpose, she was looking for something to fill the space. Then, a friend made a suggestion.
"A friend said to me, 'Look, come down to the local courts. There's this new game'," Mary recalls.
"I hesitated, but I went. From day one, I was hooked."
What Mary discovered was a fast-paced game of surprising tactical intensity. Croquet gave her a new competitive buzz for an old sporting passion. If you've dedicated years to a sport, finding that same intensity again later in life is rare. Mary found that everything she loved about sport and competition was there in croquet.
"Being a sporting person all my life, competition has been a part of my life," she explains. "And I just feel so fortunate that now I can continue to have that same thrill, the adrenaline of competition."
Former athletes might wonder how their old skills could translate to croquet years later. Mary found a sport that demands the same mental fortitude and strategic thinking as any high-level competition. The physical demands are different, but the competitive mindset is the same.
"When I was younger, I played squash to a high level," Mary says. "Squash was very physical, where aerobic fitness was extremely important. In croquet, it's a different sort of fitness. It's a mental fitness."
For those with that competitive drive, croquet offers a genuine pathway to the highest levels, regardless of age. Mary's journey proves it. Her dedication has taken her around the country and the world, representing her state and her nation.
"I'm Mary McMahon, and I've had the opportunity to play croquet all around Australia. I have played at state level, I've played at national level, and I also had the privilege of representing Australia at the over 50s Worlds."
A journey like that doesn't just happen. Reaching an elite level requires the same dedication that any top sport demands. Former athletes know this. The reward is in the practice itself.
"You might see some of the good players out there playing and think that it all just comes naturally. It doesn't," Mary admits. "I put in a lot of time. I practice shots. I need to know when I'm in a competition, I've practiced that. I can do that and I will do that."
Mary McMahon's story shows that the end of one sporting chapter doesn't have to be the end of the story. If you miss the challenge, the strategy, and the satisfaction of competition, croquet is the sport for you.
If you understand what it means to train, to focus, and to compete, croquet can give you that again.
People like you are rediscovering their competitive spirit with croquet. To find a club near you and learn about Come and Try days, visit Croquet Queensland.
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