Although Ben Hawes announced his retirement from Team GB duty last week, he has known for some time that the London 2012 Olympics was going to be his international swansong.

The Kingston-based star of three Olympic campaigns is enjoying his club hockey again after a summer that, while the nation  rejoiced in Team GB’s glorious medal haul, ended in personal disappointment.

And with his club side Wimbledon sitting pretty on top of the Men’s Hockey League Conference East, spying promotion to the Premier League for the first time in its history, Hawes is relieved to be free of the international burden.

Hawes’s international career ended in a 3-1 bronze medal play-off defeat to Australia in the Olympic Park, and coming so close only to miss out on a medal left the 32-year-old with a bitter after-taste.However, six months later, the former Surbiton player is a firm believer that time has done its healing trick.

“When you’ve spent six or seven years preparing for London, and then two years full-time training to miss out was really disappointing.

“But with time comes reflection and it is easier to reflect on the experience. I pretty much knew that would be my last game for GB, but I did not want to make the decision when the emotions were still quite raw.”

He added: “But over Christmas I knew it was time to call it a day and concentrate on other things. It has made it easier to concentrate on club hockey because you are managing your expectations with nothing bigger at the back of your mind.

“Before I decided to stop, it was always a case of playing your club hockey with the Olympics looming over it.

“I am enjoying my hockey now for what it is rather than always having a bigger picture to look at.”

Despite a 1-0 defeat at the weekend, Hawes says he is playing some of his best hockey now - a fact supported by two hat-tricks since Christmas – and Wimbledon are reaping the benefits.

But it took a break from the game just before the festive period for the veteran to finally fall in love with hockey again.

“I did not really have a break after the Olympics, I thought I wanted to get back and play straight away, and it may have not been the best idea.

“It was one of those things where I was just ready for a break so I did not pick up a stick from mid November to mid January.

“I worked in the gym, but forgot about hockey and was probably refreshed by that and so was looking forward to getting back into it again come the season’s restart. That’s had a huge bearing on how I’ve played as well.”

He added: “And hockey is now my release after sitting behind a desk all week at work, and I am happy with that.”

Unlike the majority of his Olympic compatriots, Hawes has never watched his London 2012 exploits back on video – but he insists it is not for emotional reasons.

“It is not anything to do with the raw emotions of losing out, I just not a big hockey coach or analyst,” he said.

“I have a few of the games recorded and my parents have them all. It is not something I plan to do, but one day maybe.”