From Chicken Fried to Kiwi Sledge: How Aussies Won Historic Olympic Gold

Shannon Parry, co-captain of Australia's victorious women's rugby sevens team at the 2016 Rio Olympics, recalled a moment of profound realization during a jog in Brisbane. Seeing young girls, some as young as eight, playing rugby at a primary school struck her deeply. Parry, who didn't start playing rugby until she was 18 due to limited opportunities for girls when she was younger, recognized the impact her team's achievement had.

"These girls have this opportunity partly because of what we've been able to create around the legacy of Rio," Parry told ABC Sport. "For me, it was special." August 8 marks the 10th anniversary of rugby sevens' debut at the Olympics in Rio, a triumph that continues to resonate. The legacy of that gold medal has inspired current players in the sevens and Wallaroos programs.

“

Wow. These girls have this opportunity partly because of what we've been able to create around the legacy of Rio. For me, it was special.

Australian sevens co-captain Bella Nasser and Wallaroos star Piper Duck both cited the Rio victory as a pivotal moment that motivated them to pursue rugby. Nasser noted she "never looked at rugby as a female sport until that moment," while Duck previously believed "women weren't allowed to play." Parry expressed humility in knowing her 2016 team serves as trailblazers for players like Nasser and Duck.

"The players coming through now have idols they can look up to," Parry said. "To think that 2016 team had a small impact on getting those girls and encouraging them to try rugby, it's pretty special." This success was not accidental but the result of meticulous planning by Rugby Australia, beginning with talent identification camps in 2012. Many players joined the sevens program from other sports like rugby league, touch football, athletics, and basketball, some having never played rugby before.

“

The players coming through now have idols they can look up to. To think that 2016 team had a small impact on getting those girls and encouraging them to try rugby, it's pretty special.