PARIS, France — USA Rugby made history on Tuesday with their first Olympic medal, as the women's team sprung a shocking win over Australia in the final moments of the bronze medal match.
The key moment came with just seconds to go, as Alex "Spiff" Sedrick broke through and ran nearly the length of the field for the try that effectively won the game.
It had looked like all was lost -- an Australia try left the Americans trailing 12-7 with only about 30 seconds left by the time play restarted.
Australia missed their kick (worth two points) however, leaving the faintest of hopes alive for the U.S.
Sedrick took that small window and ran right through it.
With only about 10 seconds left Sedrick took a pass out of a ruck, broke a tackle and ran right over a second tackler and broke the full length of the field for a try to tie it at 12-12. The U.S. easily converted their two-point kick and took the bronze 14-12.
"A stunning result, from the United States, more history made," the announcer said as the kick was converted. The U.S. had never before reached the medal matches at the Olympics.
"Alex 'Spiff' Sedrick has grown and grown to be part of the team," the announcer added.
Who is Alex 'Spiff' Sedrick?
Sedrick is an alum of Life University in Marietta, Georgia. She has been playing with the USA 7s program since 2021, after she was an MA Sorensen Award winner (given annually to the nation's top rugby player) in college with Life University.
These are her first Olympics with the USA 7s team. She has competed in the past, however, with Team USA and won a gold medal at the 2023 Pan American Games.
Playing center for Team USA, the 26-year-old is originally from Salt Lake City, Utah and plays club rugby with Utah Lions.
She went to Herriman High School in Utah and started rugby when the sister of another player on her volleyball team introduced her to the sport.
That eventually led her to Life University.
