With yet another gold medal in the trophy cabinet, there’s not much left for the champion Black Ferns sevens legends to achieve.
Unless, says Sky Sport reporter Courtney Tairi, you’re retiring star Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, 33, who has a very good idea of what’s next in her post-professional athlete era.
“Portia told me she’ll now be sitting in the lounge, eating KFC and McDonald’s and having babies,” laughs Courtney from Paris.
“What a send-off for her. She’s really proud that, with all her accolades and achievements, she’s done it as a wahine, as a Māori and as herself. All of the team was saying that it was the best day of their lives and that they’ll be celebrating for some time!”
Stade de France was “loud and full of mana” to welcome in Aotearoa’s first medal of the 2024 Games, with former Silver Fern Courtney, 36, saying the atmosphere was nothing like she’d ever experienced before, with tears, elation, “pure happiness” and a very special haka sending the Black Ferns viral across the world on social media.
“It was a record-breaking crowd for women’s rugby – two sold-out games meant 140,000 were there supporting and so many of them were Kiwis – the pockets of black all over were insane. I’ve been to lots of sporting events, but this one, I can’t even describe it.
“It’s so great for the game and for me personally, it was such an honour to be there and a moment I’ll cherish forever.”
Watch the 2024 Paris Olympics exclusively with Sky Sport.
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