Alex Sedrick's miracle dash, conversion scores USA bronze in women's rugby

SAINT-DENIS, France -- Back Alex Sedrick took a long try the distance to tie Australia at 12 as time expired, then delivered the winning two points on a conversion to kickstart a celebration and a bronze medal for U.S. women's rugby sevens in a 14-12 upset in the 2024 Games on Tuesday.

The United States won an Olympic medal in rugby for the first time since the men won gold in 1924.

Australia failed to wrap up the medal when Tia Hinds' conversion failed following the try from Maddi Levi, which put the US down 12-7 with 80 seconds to play.

Sedrick appeared to be stalled in her tracks but steamrolled over Levi's sister, Teagan, and rocketed through the middle. She never looked back on a 90-meter run to glory with Maddi Levi -- known for her sprinting speed -- locked in pursuit. Sedrick legged to the line and dove across as jubilation overtook the US sideline.

"One minute for the rest of her life, that's a life changing moment for all of us and for rugby in America," Kristi Kirshe said of Sedrick's try, referring to her by her nickname, Spiff. "And thank God, Spiff took off the way she did."

But it still wasn't over.

The 26-year-old Sedrick is not normally asked to kick. She said she badly missed two tries pregame.

"Spiff is such a great player and I knew that she was through and she could beat anybody," wing Stephanie Rovetti said.

The U.S. played for bronze after losing to eventual gold medal winner New Zealand. Canada knocked off Australia 19-12 in semifinals action before falling to New Zealand.

Australia appeared set for the gold medal matchup with New Zealand in the earlier semifinal. Canada won on a last-play score and then scored twice in a minute to reach halftime 14-12 ahead over New Zealand in the final. Following a key turnover, Stacey Waaka went over the line to seal the 19-12 victory and a fifth consecutive world series tournament win and back-to-back Olympic gold for New Zealand.

--Field Level Media (Reuters contributed to this report)