Rugby has long been considered a sleeping giant on the United States sporting scene. But it stepped into the spotlight with a historic Olympic win Tuesday.
The U.S. women's rugby sevens team captured its first-ever medal, shocking heavily-favored Australia, 14-12, in the bronze medal game.
A victory for Team USA seemed unlikely until the game's waning moments, when the Americans sprung into attack, racing past Australia's formidable defense for the winning score.
Rugby sevens became an Olympic sport in 2016, but no U.S. team has claimed a medal in the sport since 15-a-side rugby's final hurrah at the 1924 Games.
The Eagles have showed they can be effective in the Rugby World Cup and Pan-American Games — the Americans notched two bronze medals in the former and a gold medal in the latter. But given Australia's might — the side has two Rugby World Cups and an Olympic gold medal in 2016 to its name — there wasn't much hopes for the Americans entering the game, especially after their defeat to New Zealand in the semifinals earlier in the day.
Led by Ilona Maher, Naya Tapper and the rest of the squad, Team USA silenced the doubters. Now, they're immortal, taking the podium as the country's first Olympic medalists in rugby sevens.
USA rugby bronze-medal match video/highlights
Who is Spiff Sedrick? Meet USA rugby hero
Spiff Sedrick was the name on the lips of viewers following the conclusion of Tuesday's bronze-medal game. The reason why? She was the one to notch that game-deciding score.
Sedrick fielded a toss from inside centre Cheta Emba, turning upstream amid a corridor of yellow-clad defenders. With a sidestep one way and a drop of a shoulder in the other, Sedrick displaced her would-be tacklers. Then came daylight: Sedrick outraced her adversaries, diving as she crossed the goal-line. Game. Set. Match.
Sedrick became an American icon in the process. The Salt Lake City native has always been a good athlete; she was a multi-sport star back in high school. After being introduced to rugby as a teen, Sedrick earned an offer from Life University, a titan in the world of collegiate rugby. She was a regular presence on the USA's junior national sides during her college career and even nabbed the MA Sorensen Award, an annual prize given to the nation's best collegiate rugby player.
Sedrick made her World Sevens debut in 2021. She's since become a pivotal member of the senior team, making 19 appearances thus far.
Jason Kelce supports USA rugby with Ilona Maher shirt
Former Eagles center Jason Kelce was among the loudest supporters for USA Rugby, pulling up the women's gymnastics team final with an Ilona Maher shirt. Don't believe me? Feast your eyes:
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