Rugby Olympic Updates: Olsen Captures Historic Olympic Bronze with Team USA
7/29/2024 5:36:00 PM | Olympics
• Paris Olympics Site | U-M Olympics Coverage
Tuesday, July 30
New Zealand 24, USA 12 (Semifinals)
USA 14, Australia 12 (Bronze-Medal Match)
Team USA used a last-second score to defeat Australia in the bronze-medal match and claim the first women's rugby medal for USA Rugby in Olympics history. Trailing 12-7 with less than a minute remaining, Team USA's Alex Sedrick sprinted down the field for a game-tying try and scored her own conversion for game-winning points with time expired. The USA fell to New Zealand 24-12 in the semifinals after sacrificing three tries in the second half. New Zealand went on to claim its second straight Olympic gold medal. Wolverine alum Alena Olsen started the bronze-medal game and scored a late conversion in the semifinals.
• Alena Olsen: start vs. Australia, 2pt conversion vs. New Zealand
Monday, July 29
France 31, USA 14
USA 17, Great Britain 7 (Quarterfinals)
The United States split a pair of games, falling to host France, 31-14, in its final pool game before bouncing back with a 17-7 quarterfinal win over Great Britain to put itself in contention for a medal. Team USA rallied from a sluggish start and early deficit in the quarterfinals with 17 unanswered points, including a try and conversion in the opening seconds of the second half to take the lead. Wolverine Alena Olsen earned her second Olympic start against Great Britain and played nearly the entire quarterfinal; she also posted a two-point conversion in the second half against France.
• Alena Olsen: start vs. Great Britain, 2pt conversion vs. France
• Stats and Video: USA vs. France | USA vs. Great Britain (NBC Olympics)
Sunday, July 28
USA 36, Japan 7; USA 24, Brazil 5
The United States kicked off its Olympic appearance with a pair of pool-play wins -- a 36-7 victory against Japan and a 24-5 triumph over Brazil -- at the Stade de France. After sacrificing an early lead in its opening game, Team USA scored 36 unanswered points against Japan then similarly surged against Brazil with 19 unanswered. Ilona Maher, Sammy Sullivan and Alex Sedrick led USA with a try in each game, while Michigan alum Alena Olsen started the Japan game and played 17:26 total minutes on the day.
• Alena Olsen: start vs. Japan, 17:26 total minutes
• Stats and Video: USA vs. Japan | USA vs. Brazil (NBC Olympics)
