The Australian women’s rugby sevens team has boosted the medal haul from Griffith University students and alumni at the Rio Olympics after winning gold this morning.
Shannon Parry, a Bachelor of Education graduate, and her team known as the Pearls capped off an unbeaten run in the competition to defeat New Zealand 24-17.
It was the first Olympic gold awarded for the rugby sevens, and it has lifted the medal tally for Griffith students and alumni competing at Rio to two gold and one bronze.
Shannon, the team co-captain, started playing rugby for Easts Rugby Union Club while studying at Griffith. She represented Queensland after her first trial and later made the national XV side, the Wallaroos.
At the age of 20 she competed in the first of two World Cups, before taking on the short form of the sport and turning hereyes to the Olympics.
Griffith Health student Emma McKeon wins gold
Griffith Physics student Cam McEvoy wins bronze
Your daily guide to Griffith students at the Olympics
The win by the Pearls adds to the gold medal secured by Griffith Health student Emma McKeon in the 4×100 women’s relay on the opening day of Olympic competition, and the bronze won by Science student Cameron McEvoy in the 4×100 men’s freestyle relay.
In other performances today, Emma McKeon finished second in her 200m freestyle semi-final and will be vying for gold in the pool tomorrow morning.
Madi Wilson, a Bachelor of Social Work student, finished eighth in the 100m backstroke final in her debut appearance at an Olympics.
Jessica Hall (Psychological Science) and Madeleine Edmunds (Business) missed out on a finals berth for the women’s quad four in rowing after being knocked out in the repechage early this morning.
