Carina Benninga’s Dutch Women’s National Field Hockey Team won the Olympic gold medal in 1984 and the World Championships gold medal twice, in 1983 and 1990. Captain of the 1990 Dutch championship team, Benninga was also named captain of that year’s honorary Women’s World Field Hockey Team.

In 1984 and again in 1988, Benninga was voted Best European
Player. Her teams captured the Champions Trophy in 1987 and were bronze medalists in 1991. They won European Cups in 1984 and 1987 and finished fourth in 1991. They also earned the bronze medal at the 1988 Olympics and finished sixth at the 1992 Games. Her 1989 Maccabiah women’s team won the gold medal in Israel.

Captain of the national Dutch Women’s Field Hockey Team from 1989 to 1992, Carina was honored as Holland’s Flag Bearer at the opening ceremonies of the 1989 Maccabiah Games
in Israel and 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. She was the first woman to present Holland’s colors at an Olympic Games.

In 1994, Carina was knighted by the Queen of Holland.

Earning a masters degree in 1987 from the University of Amsterdam
Law School (she did her undergraduate work at Old Dominion University in the United States), Carina was assistant coach of the U.S. Women’s National Field Hockey Team from 1993 to 1995. In 1998, she was appointed interim head coach of the U.S. Team. Carina also coached successfully in Holland, including coaching the 1997 Dutch Maccabiah Games gold medal women’s team.