With seconds remaining, Alex Sedrick scored a long try and added a bronze-clinching conversion to give the United States a thrilling 14–12 victory over Australia on Tuesday. The outcome secured the first Olympic medal for the U.S. women’s rugby sevens team.
With roughly 85 seconds remaining, Maddison Levi’s try gave Australia a 12-7 advantage that seemed to seal the deal for the gold medalists from 2016. Tia Hinds’ missed convert looked inconsequential at the time, but it proved to be a pivotal move when Sedrick surged through the crowd for her big score in the closing seconds.
As the clock ran out, American standout Ilona Maher was fouled, and then teammate Ariana Ramsey received the ball and passed it to Sedrick. The native of Salt Lake City, Sedrick, knocked over an Australian and went through another to find himself in vast open space. About ninety yards down the field, she took it home, setting off a frenzied celebration on the sidelines in the United States.
According to Sedrick, the team psychologist encourages players to maintain focus at all times and to embrace their own doubts.
“So it’s OK to be nervous, it’s OK to be scared, it’s OK to doubt yourself,” she stated. “But as long as the next action you take is toward your goal, it’s going work out.”
When Sedrick scored, the team’s usual kicker wasn’t on the field, so Sedrick took the unorthodox kick and put it through the uprights.
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Before winning a medal on Tuesday, the Americans had a steep hill to climb after losing to the reigning champions, New Zealand. It didn’t seem possible that Canada, the silver medalists, would defeat Australia in the other semifinal match.
In a game that new superfan Flavor Flav attended, Hinds and center Alev Kelter—a native of Eagle River, Alaska—both scored tries, and the teams were deadlocked 7–7 at the half.
Nearly every play in the second half was deep in the American end as Australia dominated. However, the Americans gave up on Levi’s lone, late effort, which allowed Sedrick to record a historic touchdown.
