While the Zimbabweans were overjoyed by their unlikely status as the first ever Olympic gold medallists in women's hockey, some, including Robert Sullivan of Sports Illustrated, felt that the Zimbabwean victory epitomised how the Western boycott had lowered competitive standards and, in their opinion, "ruined" the 1980 Olympics.
Saat orang Zimbabwe sangat gembira karena dengan status non unggulan berhasil meraih medali emas Olimpiade pertama dalam hoki putri, beberapa pihak, termasuk Robert Sullivan dari Sports Illustrated, merasa bahwa kemenangan Zimbabwe menunjukkan bagaimana boikot Barat telah menurunkan standar kompetisi dan, dalam pendapat mereka, "merusak" Olimpiade 1980.