Rugby sevens started the Olympic action early and delivered huge hits, shocking upsets and even bigger crowds in Paris. World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin said the Games could be a “coming of age” for rugby sevens and he wasn’t wrong. Every match had a nearly 67,000-strong crowd packing Stade de France.
Rugby superstar Antoine Dupont led France to its first gold medal of the Games while the women from New Zealand defended their Olympic gold medal. It was the American women though who stole the show as darlings of the Games as Ilona Maher became a household name.
Here’s a look back at all the action, from highlights to medal results and everything in between.
Medal count
Six rugby medals were awarded at the Paris Olympics and six different nations will take them home.
Men's Medalists
🥇: France
🥈: Fiji
🥉: South Africa
Women's Medalists
🥇: New Zealand
🥈: Canada
🥉: United States
Men's tournament
In the men’s tournament, French rugby union superstar Antoine Dupont delivered as France won its first gold medal of the Games. Dupont scored two tries in the gold medal match to unseat Fiji.
Fiji’s captain Jerry Tuwai became the first individual to earn three Olympic rugby medals (two gold, one silver).
South Africa upset Australia to take home the bronze medal. The Springboks were the last team to qualify for the Olympics and were considered underdogs to make it that far into the tournament. Australia finished just off the podium in fourth.
U.S. men's team
The U.S. men were unable to advance past the quarterfinal match for the second Games in a row. The U.S. was shut out in its last Olympic match, a fitting end to a lackluster tournament performance. After the Olympics, head coach Mike Friday announced he’s stepping away from the program.
Perry Baker scored his 10th career try in the Olympics to break former teammate Carlin Isles’ record for most career tries in the Olympics. He announced before the Games that he would be retiring from international play after the Olympics, the end of an era for a pillar of men’s rugby sevens.
Women's tournament
Rugby legend Portia Woodman helped lead New Zealand to its second straight Olympic gold, beating Canada in the gold medal match. New Zealand is the first country to win two gold medals in women’s rugby sevens.
Canada surpassed expectations to claim the silver medal, its best finish in an Olympic tournament. The U.S. women, meanwhile, won bronze in a shocking upset over Australia.
Australia’s sister tandem of Maddison and Teagan Levi looked unstoppable for most of the tournament. Maddison scored 14 tries in the tournament, setting the record for the most tries at a single Olympic Games.
U.S. women's team
For the women, a last-second try by Alex "Spiff" Sedrick won the Americans the bronze medal over Australia. It’s the first rugby sevens medal for the United States, men or women’s. Head coach Emilie Bydwell became the first female rugby head coach to lead a team to a medal of any kind.
Ilona Maher’s popularity soared to new heights as she TikTok’d in Olympic Village and delivered viral stiff arms on the pitch.
Three-time Olympian Alev Kelter delivered timely tries all tournament and proposed to her girlfriend in Paris. Naya Tapper ended her Olympic career with a medal; the rugby sevens mainstay announced she would retire after the Games.