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Reuters

If Australia grabs another Olympic gold medal in rugby sevens at Paris, the highlights reel may well be dominated by Maddison Levi burning off defenders on her way to the try-line.
The 22-year-old Queenslander has been a juggernaut since the Tokyo Games, tearing up try-scoring records in the SVNS world series to help Australia return to the peak of the game.
She scored a hat-trick in Madrid last Sunday against Olympic hosts France in the global circuit’s inaugural “Grand Final” to finish the season with an incredible 69 tries.
The tally destroyed her previous women’s record of 57 from the 2022/23 season and came despite being suspended for a slew of matches for high tackles.

Rival coaches will be furiously plotting how to shut her down at Paris where Australia will be among the strongest contenders.
Levi says they are welcome to try.
“With pressure, I think we perform a lot better,” she told reporters in Sydney. “I feel like they’ll definitely be looking to shut me down but that’s the beauty of having that team around me.
“If I’m not scoring tries there’s four other girls on the other edges that do such an amazing job. If I can set up or help them score, then that’s my job done.”
Professional women’s sport has developed rapidly in Australia in recent years, giving elite female athletes unprecedented choice.
Courted by several sports, Levi played a season of top flight Australian Rules football in 2021 for the Gold Coast Suns before committing to the national rugby sevens programme.

She was a surprise pick for the Tokyo Olympics squad at the age of 19 but Australia’s defence of the title they won at the inaugural Olympic rugby sevens event in Rio ended in the quarter-finals.
Levi and her talented kid sister Teagan were instrumental in the team’s rebound in the following year to Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham and the rugby sevens World Cup title.
The national women’s soccer team, the Matildas, are dubbed “Australia’s favourite sporting team” – and may be deserving of the tag following the huge swell in support triggered by their run to the Women’s World Cup semi-finals on home soil.
But another Olympic gold would put the sevens women on a similar plain.
The Levi sisters and their teammates certainly work hard for their success, on and off the field.
After a 30-hour flight home from the SVNS title-decider in Madrid, the squad were straight back in the gym doing a weights session.
The work ethic is driven by head coach Tim Walsh but willingly taken on by the players, said Levi.

It helps that the players are like family.
“I’m not going to lie and say we don’t fight – because we’re all sisters,” she said.
“We ride through the highs and lows. We train – we call it ‘through the darkness’. I think that just shows the commitment we have to the overall goal of winning an Olympics.”
For all of Levi’s steely words, the Gold Coast native is relentlessly cheerful in public and betrays a soft spot for young fans.
She said being a role model often brought a tear to her eye as she recalled an exchange with a little girl in Hong Kong.
“I gave her my boots and she bawled her eyes out,” she said.
“To be that figure for a new generation is truly inspirational for me. But that’s why I play.”


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Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Maddison Levi backing Australia’s rugby sevens ‘sisters’ for gold at Paris Olympics 2024

Levi brushes off the tackles of France’s Seraphine Okemba (left) and Marie Dupouy on her way to a try in the World Rugby Sevens final in Madrid on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Levi ended the World Rugby Sevens season with 69 tries, beating the previous mark she set of 57. Photo: AFP

Levi (second from left) with sister Teagan and their parents at the Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: Mike Chan

Levi says the Australian team go “through the darkness” together to win titles – and Olympic gold. Photo: AFP

China women earn place among rugby sevens elite, superstar Dupont inspires France success ahead of home Olympics

Jubilant France celebrate claiming the HSBC SVNS Series crown in Madrid. Photo: AFP

Antione Dupont was in fine form as France beat Great Britain, Fiji, and Argentina in must-win games. Photo: AFP

Australia staged a dramatic late comeback to beat New Zealand in their Madrid sevens semi-final. Photo: AFP

Paris Olympics: Australia to let athletes decide on swimming in dirty River Seine

Triathletes dive into the Seine during the men’s 2023 World Triathlon Olympic Games Test Event in Paris last August. Photo: AFP

Visitors inside a River Seine water storage and treatment basin that aims to make the river cleaner. Photo: AFP

Australia will provide its delegation with Vegemite spread and air-conditioning units at the athletes’ village. Photo: EPA-EFE

Paris Olympics: why women’s rugby sevens gold-medal match could have a Hong Kong presence

The Stade de France will host the rugby sevens at the Paris Olympics. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

Chan has attracted a fan base since beginning a successful refereeing career in Hong Kong. Photo: Mike Chan

Michaela Blyde is among the New Zealand stars tipped for Olympic rugby sevens glory in Paris. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong Sevens 2023: 6 men’s and women’s players to watch at this week’s tournament

More than 20,000 rugby sevens fans watched three days of action in Hong Kong during last November. Photo: Handout

Australia’s Maddison Levi (left) prevents New Zealand’s Jorja Miller from scoring a try during the Canada Sevens women’s final on March 5. Photo: AP

Argentina’s Matias Osadczuk (right) is tackled by Kenya’s Willy Ambaka at the 2022 Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

New Zealand's Akuila Rokolisoa runs in a try against Canada in the Bowl final at the 2022 Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: Sam Tsang

Max Denmark stiff arms a defender during Hong Kong’s semi-final against Japan in the Asia Rugby Sevens Series leg in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi. Photo: Asia Rugby

Fijis Reapi Ulunisau (centre) in action against Canada in Vancouver. Photo: AFP

Australias Dietrich Roache (centre) tries to break free from Fiji’s Rokoua Rasaku at the LA Sevens. Photo: AFP

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 results: Fiji and Australia crowned men’s and women’s world champions

Pilipo Bukayaro of Fiji scores the final try of the match beating New Zealand in the men’s Final at the Rugby World Cup Sevens. Photo: AP

Australia’s players celebrate their victory in Cape Town. Photo: AFP

Fiji’s Jerry Tuwai (centre) takes a high ball during the men’s final. Photo: EPA-EFE

Sport

Rugby

Paris Olympics 2024

The 22-year-old try-scoring machine finished the season with 69 – just in time to help Australia regain the gold medal they won at Rio 2016


Women’s Rugby

Commonwealth

Paris

Sydney