The Springbok Women’s Sevens team left South Africa on Friday with a firm understanding of what their first participation in the Olympic Games means, not only to the players selected in the squad, but also to those who came before them.
And according to Nadine Roos, one of the team’s star performers, they are also going all out to chase a podium finish.
Roos made her international sevens debut in 2016 and was part of squads who missed out on travelling to the Olympics in Rio and Tokyo, so this year, their passage to Paris means everything to the incumbents.
“We know we are also representing those who qualified in the past but did not go,” said Roos.
“We are also playing for them and that is another motivation for us, the first group to actually qualify and go to play in the Olympic Games.
“We will have those team mates in our hearts when we run out onto the Stade de France pitch in our opening game against Australia. We will also be boosted by the fact that the Springboks twice won the Rugby World Cup at this venue.”
The newcomers could not have asked for a tougher assignment in their first Olympics, facing a former gold medallist team and one they have not beaten in many years.
“We had a frank and open discussion about this – we played them during the world series and had our moments, but could not beat them,” said Roos.
“Still, we believe that it is possible and we will leave nothing out there in any of our pool games. Our previous encounters with Ireland and Great Britain were also very competitive and we believe that we will do our country proud in the pool stages, which will set us up for the knock-out rounds.
“We are not going to Paris for selfies with other sports superstars or just to participate, we are going to try and win a medal.”
'A SPECIAL FEELING'
Roos said the option of getting tattoos of the Olympic rings seems almost compulsory amongst athletes, but she is still thinking about it.
“I am not one for tattoos so will think about it a bit still. If I do get one, it will not be visible to everyone,” Roos said with a smile, but on a more serious note, she added that the reality of going to the global showpiece is hitting hard.
“First it started as a dream, being a young athlete, then it almost happened twice, but now it is real,” she said.
“Our participation was confirmed quite a while back, but this day still came quickly. The other day the countdown was still 50 days and now we are here.
“This is such a special feeling. We got our kit the other day and a day or two ago I fitted everything just to make sure it is comfortable. Then I really knew it is happening.”
The Bok Women’s Sevens will travel to Montpellier for a week long training camp on Saturday, where they will play warm-up chukkas against Australia and Brazil.
“Next weekend we will move to the Olympic village in Paris,” said Roos. “Then the painting will be complete. The caption though, is something we must write with our performances.”
SPRINGBOK WOMEN'S SEVENS POOL FIXTURES
Sunday 28 July
4pm: Australia
7pm: Ireland
Monday 29 July
2pm: Great Britain