US Women’s Rugby Sevens brings home Olympic bronze with dramatic final play by Utah’s Alex Sedrick

Photo: USA Rugby

Utah's Alex Sedrick scores the winning try with a 85-yard carry to beat Australia 14-12 with 10 seconds left in the game

PARIS – It may go down as one of the most dramatic Olympic finishes in history. Alex Sedrick, a native of Herriman, has run her way into U.S. rugby history after scoring what seemed like an impossible try with just seconds left in the game and then hitting the game-winning conversion on the final play to give Team USA a 14-12 victory over Australia in the bronze medal match. It is the first ever Olympic rugby Sevens medal for the U.S.

Two players with Utah ties are on the Team U.S.A. roster. Former BYU women’s basketball player Steph Rovetti and Herriman High graduate Alex Sedrick came off the bench halfway through the second half.

The Australians struck first, cutting through the U.S. defense with a try from Maddison Levi, her 13th of the 2024 Paris Olympics. After the successful conversion, Australia led 7-0.

Two minutes later, Teagan Levi received a yellow card, giving the U.S. a two-minute player advantage. The Americans made a determined push to score with two minutes remaining in the half, but Australia’s defense executed a try-saving tackle at the goal line. Moments later, Alev Kelter broke through two defenders for a late try. The successful conversion tied the match at 7.

Australia ended the second-half scoring drought when Maddison Levi took a quick restart and, after one pass, secured her second try of the match, giving Australia a 12-7 lead.

With time running out and their backs against the wall, Alex Sedrick powered through a defender for a match-winning try. The successful conversion sealed the bronze medal for the U.S. with a 14-12 victory.

Watch Sedrick’s play here.

 

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