Aussie 7s star has 'unfinished business' after injury ended 2024 Olympic debut

Kaitlin Shave, a rising star in Australian rugby sevens, is channeling her disappointment from a devastating injury into a powerful drive for future success. Her Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Games ended just minutes into the opening match against South Africa due to a severe anterior cruciate ligament tear. The injury necessitated surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation, forcing her to miss the entire 2024/25 season.

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Coming back, I don't really take anything for granted. Just to represent my country, I'm 10 times more grateful than I was before. The injury really puts things into perspective, and I think it's made me a better player on and off the field. You learn a lot in rehab. It's a lonely process sometimes.

Despite the setback, Shave has made a strong comeback, recently contributing to Australia's victory in the second leg of the World Series in Valladolid, Spain. She demonstrated her recovered speed and skill by scoring a match-leveling try against New Zealand in the semifinal, a crucial moment that helped Australia secure a 28-26 win. The team went on to defeat the USA in the final, showcasing Shave's immediate impact upon her return.

Shave, who was an elite sprinter in her youth, described her try-scoring run as instinctual. "It was kind of automatic," she told ABC Sport. "I just started sprinting, and I think once I was close to the line, I realised this was the moment that was able to put us in a really good position to win it."

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It was kind of automatic. I just started sprinting, and I think once I was close to the line, I realised this was the moment that was able to put us in a really good position to win it.

Her immediate focus is on helping Australia clinch the World Championship title at the final leg in Bordeaux, France. Australia currently leads New Zealand by two points in the overall standings. Looking further ahead, Shave is firmly set on competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, viewing it as an opportunity to fulfill her "unfinished business" and overcome the bitter experience of her Paris debut. "I know it's a long time away, but that is definitely one of my main goals," she stated.

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I definitely feel as though I have a lot of unfinished business. I know it's a long time away, but that is definitely one of my main goals.