SAINT-DENIS, France — West Michigan has its first Olympic medalist from the Paris Summer Games.
Caledonia native Alena Olsen, 28, helped her team win a bronze medal in the Women's Olympic Rugby Sevens match Tuesday.
With moments to go and Australia up 12-7, Alex Sedrick ran the length of the pitch for a try between the posts securing Team USA the bronze.
The American women took the victory over the Australians 14-12.
It's the first Team USA Rugby Sevens medal.
The Americans reached the semifinals for the first time but lost to New Zealand.
New Zealand went on to keep the women's title by winning gold while Team Canada took home the silver.
Olsen's first Olympic appearance was as a scrumhalf on the field. In her position, Olsen acts as a link between the forwards and the backs and will be responsible for making quick decisions and connecting plays on the field.
Olsen played volleyball and soccer in high school and didn't start playing rugby until she was an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Michigan.
From 2014-2018, she was a member of the women's rugby club. During her time at Michigan, Olsen earned a two-time All-American in 2015 and 2016 and earned a nomination to the Collegiate Rugby Championship Dream Team in 2016 and 2017.
She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in music, biology and environmental sciences.
In 2017, Olsen appeared in three USA Falcons development tournaments, including a five-match exhibition series with Australia, Super Sevens Brisbane and the Okinawa Invitational 2018.
Olsen also helped the San Diego Surfers win a Club Sevens National Championship in 2018.
She made her USA Rugby debut in 2019 in the Glendale Sevens where the USA won the tournament. She was also part of the U.S. sevens roster that finished fourth in the 2022 Rugby World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa.
Olsen has been playing with the Kansas City Headliners of Premier Rugby Sevens since 2021.