CALEDONIA, Mich. — Since the sport rugby sevens was introduced to the Olympic games back in 2016, the United States has never medaled.
The team will look to change that this year at their third try in Paris, but this time around the U.S. is bringing Caledonia's Alena Olsen to help improve their fortune.
“It’s really cool to represent Michigan, it might be equally as cool as representing the rest of the country," said Olsen.
Olsen wasn’t introduced to Rugby until her freshman year at the University of Michigan. Her cousin also played rugby with the Wolverines and encouraged the high school soccer player to give it a try.
“They were like anybody who wants to try it come here and play, we want to have you here and love this spot," said Olsen.
10 years after being introduced to the sport, Olsen will head to the Olympics as a part of the U.S. rugby sevens team.
“That one is still so hard because I feel like I’m in the process of accepting it all,” she said.
During her time at Michigan, Olsen was a two-time All-American. With her success came a chance to make a run at the national team.
“The men’s team at the time had a USA coach who was scouting and he was the one who said you should come to this talent ID camp and that’s when I realized there are some doors that can open with this sport,” said Olsen.
Olsen's journey from being introduced to rugby to being on the national team may seem like a breeze, but it came with nothing but resilience and hard work.
“In the residency program you are eating, sleeping and breathing rugby and that can be exhausting," Olsen said. "In the first three years I was facing a lot of rejection and didn’t make the 2020 team for Tokyo."
Still working with the national team, Olsen didn't give up. Four years later she is one of 12 players selected to represent the United States in Paris.
“The most amount of emotion I get is when I see the way that my family reacts and my friends react when they are talking about it, that is when I start to tear up,” she said.
The proudest part for Olsen is getting to represent her hometown on the world’s biggest stage
“My teammates know how much I am a Michigander at heart, I will always let them know and I love seeing people from Michigan succeed,” Olsen said.
Olsen feels her team has a good a shot as any to medal. The United States will begin play at the end of July.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Watch 13 ON YOUR SIDE for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV and on your phone.
