Black Ferns sevens co-captain Sarah Hirini has explained why she "looked so sad on the podium" after winning gold at the Paris Olympics — revealing she played through multiple facial fractures.
In the gold medal match against Canada at the Stade de France on Wednesday, Hirini took a heavy knock to her face, right before making the break that sealed the victory.
Hirini took to social media to reveal the extent of her latest injury.
"I promise it was one of the happiest days of my life," she wrote in an Instagram story.
"But I was in some amount of pain from the knock I got on my cheek.
"The next day after scans we found out that I have multiple fractures in my face, thankfully not requiring anything other than some rest."
The 31-year-old played a central role as the sevens team defended the gold medal they won in Tokyo in 2021, but she should not really have even been at the Games.
Hirini ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee at a tournament in Doha in December last year — an injury said to have a minimum recovery time of nine months.
Seven months later, she was back in contention for the Olympic selection.
Hirini, and teammates Woodman-Wickliffe, Theresa Setefano and Tyla King are now part of a very exclusive club to win three Olympic medals, with two golds from three games.
SHARE ME