They’re obviously incredibly fit and part of a team but there are no hockey sticks or soccer balls among them. With France, you never know what you’re going to get.
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Green is set to become one of the more popular members of Australia’s Rio contingent in the Games village, and not just because of her friendly personality.
“I guess it would have to surpass it because as an athlete there’s no higher level than the Olympics”, said Williams, whose sister Niall will turn out for the New Zealand women’s team in Brazil.
“And he’s like, oh man, let’s get a photo”.
Jen Kish always wanted to be an Olympian, but was not certain if she would ever get the opportunity.
“We’ve got some incredibly talented, agile, fast, game-breaking players in our team which will make us an exciting, attacking kind of side”.
And they’re far from done.
“It’s a positive in a way because it puts the emphasis on going out there and winning gold”.
“So whenever I’m feeling like my legs are burning I just look down at my wrist and remind myself my mum is a fighter and so I am going to fight for her as well”.
It’s not a small list but with all the team’s best players, including Ghislaine Landry and Ashley Steacy, healthy and playing together for the first time all season, it just might be possible.
One of Australia’s stars is 23-year-old flyer Ellia Green, a former track runner who dreamt of competing in the Olympics in athletics. “The secret is out, we’re on the hunt and we’re true medal contenders”.
Last summer, Kish captained Canada to gold in the rugby sevens tournament at the Pan Am Games in Toronto.
Now putting the finishing touches to his side’s preparations, Powell said: “We need to create an environment where they enjoy it, not fun, but enjoy coming to work and wanting to improve and be better, and not just the players on the field, but people off the field”.
“I think we’re going to be the fittest team there, and fatigue is not going to be a factor for us”.
“When he first came we didn’t know what to expect”, Mikkelson said.
Who will win the first rugby sevens men’s title?
CT: “In an average game of 14 minutes athletes can cover 1600 metres and in a 20 minute final they may cover 2400 metres”. It’s fast and unpredictable.
Sonny Bill Williams believes winning a gold medal with the New Zealand Sevens team at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro would probably be his greatest achievement as a sportsman. They accomplished them all.
“It’s historic on all levels”, Kish said.
It will be the first time since 1924 that rugby has been played at the Olympics and the debut for sevens, the previous four incarnations featuring 15-a-side tournaments.
Rugby last featured in the Games 92 years ago, but the sevens code will make its bow at Deodoro Stadium, north of Rio, when France and Spain kick off a 12-team women’s tournament.
AIMING HIGH: The Canadian women won the last stop in the world series, beating top-ranked Australia in the final, and placing third overall.
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Forbes has been at the head of a Kiwi outfit that has shone on the world sevens circuit, often watching as teammates are plucked for what was long considered the ultimate compliment in New Zealand, pulling on the jersey of the full All Blacks team in 15s.
