After a little more than twenty-four hours and Alex “Spiff” Sedrick’s last-second try that tied the game, the U.S. women’s rugby team still doesn’t believe they won. With that amazing play, the US won the bronze medal, which was their first rugby sevens medal ever, whether it was for men or women.
NBCOlympics.com talked to Sedrick, Ilona Maher, Sammy Sullivan, and Naya Tapper after their historic win, and each woman told the story of the moment in her own words.
Sedrick’s last-ditch effort
Spiff gave Teagan Levi a textbook-perfect stiff arm, which set off the try that tied the game.
He said, “I was really surprised that I had broken the line because, you know, Australia is such a great team all around, both on defense and offense.” “I was shocked when I got the line break, but I know that as soon as I’m done, those gold jerseys will be chasing me.” If you had given Maddie Levi about 10 meters more, I think she would have caught me. I was only trying to cross the line.
Tapper, the co-captain, thought that Sedrick might make the play that won the game. It was just her and Maher on the field at the time. Sullivan was on the sidelines. “They had just scored, so we knew they were going to kick long when they got the ball back.” Speaking to Spiff in the pod (a shape rugby players use) was co-captain Lauren Doyle and me. We were telling her that they were going to kick deep and get ready to play outside the power zone.
Even though Sedrick didn’t get the ball right away from the kickoff, Ariana Ramsey did pass it to her two stages later.
According to Tapper, Spiff did exactly that. As soon as she broke the line, I think a lot of us knew we needed to get to her because their team has some fast and determined players, so I was flying down the field to make sure we were there for her if she needed us.
Sullivan: Well, I was excited when I saw Spiff mollywop that girl to the ground. I trust Spiff and know how fast he is. I was sure she would make it to 90 meters without getting hurt.
Then I went crazy and got excited. Kayla Castett thought, “Wait, she needs to make the kick.” Next, I felt stressed because I saw Spiff already having a good time like we had won.
Maher: I remember seeing Spiff do it, and she was moving so fast that I couldn’t keep up with her. But I started to jog, like, “Wait a minute,” and it was working because I was looking at the time. I was thinking, “Wait a minute, this is happening, this is happening, I’m gonna get there,” and I did. It was so exciting, I thought, “We won!” and then we all did the math in our heads: “12 vs. 12,” Because there were only four seconds left, I gave the ball to Spiff and told her, “You got it, girl. It’s okay.” Simple as that. But I was, I was going to the bathroom.
