Black Ferns sevens star Tyla Nathan-Wong doubles down on 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold after Covid-19-shortened season
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Black Ferns sevens star Tyla Nathan-Wong is relieved to get another crack at the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after confidently backing the team to win gold had it gone ahead this summer.
“The Olympics would have been very interesting if it had happened this year – I would have backed us 100 per cent to go all the way, so it was a bit of a spanner in the works,” the 26-year-old Nathan-Wong told the Post, highlighting her team’s dominant form throughout last season, clinching three of four World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series tournaments. New Zealand were crowned champions despite the abrupt end.
“It just shows you how good we were tracking as a team leading into what would have been the 2020 Olympics. For us to come away with those wins and then be crowned champions for the season, even without it being completely finished, shows you how hard this group of girls and management work.
“To know it’s been postponed and cancelled is what made me not so upset. If it was cancelled, it would be a completely different story. Knowing I can still represent our country, team and family next year is still a driving force. It’s exciting because if we can get back to [our form] or even one step further, it’s like an extra year to fine-tune preparations.”
