A Long Awaited Medal
The United States women's rugby sevens team shocked Australia and its formidable offense in the bronze medal match, claiming a 14-12 victory and their first-ever Olympic medal. This incredible upset marks a significant milestone for the team, who have consistently improved their performance at the Olympics, finishing sixth in Tokyo and fifth in Rio.
A Last-Second Hero
The Americans clinched the win in a dramatic fashion when Alex Sedrick broke through Australia's defense and bolted down the field, placing the ball in the center of the try for the game-tying score. With nerves of steel, she converted her kick to seal the victory for the jubilant Americans.
Reactions to the Triumph
Ilona Maher, a key player for the Americans, was still trying to process the magnitude of their achievement. “I hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m so tired but I’m so excited. I don’t think it will sink in until we get up with those medals. We worked really hard. We wanted this medal, not for ourselves but for our families. It was such a hard few years, but we did it.”
A Challenging Match
The match started with Australia taking an early lead, but the Americans fought back and evened the score before halftime. In the second half, Australia regained the lead with less than 90 seconds remaining. However, the Americans refused to give up and mounted a stunning comeback, culminating in Sedrick's game-winning try.
A Historic Victory
This victory not only marks the first-ever Olympic medal for the American women's rugby sevens team, but it is also the first medal in rugby (15s or 7s) for the U.S. since 1924, when the men's team won gold. Additionally, head coach Emilie Bydwell becomes the first female rugby head coach to lead a team to a medal of any kind.
The Future of American Rugby
As the Paris Olympics draw to a close, Maher hopes that the team's success will inspire more girls and women to take up rugby in the United States. “I hope it means we get more games in stadiums like this, that we get more money and funding for the women’s game. We deserve it. We need more girls in the US trying rugby and seeing what it can do for them.”
