allblacks.com 16.Sep.2012allblacks.com
Among them, BMX silver medallist Sarah Walker, who told allblacks.com the moment when they stood on the stage in the middle of the ground at the half-time break even eclipsed the moment when she stepped up to the dais in London.
“It was amazing, just being in front of such a huge New Zealand crowd.”
Sarah was joined on stage by gold medal rowers Mahe Drysdale, Hamish Bond and Joseph Sullivan, along with Juliet Haigh, Rebecca Scown, Peter Burling, Alison Shanks, Peter Taylor and Storm Uru.
She had some special words for the All Blacks Sevens and Women's Sevens teams as they prepare for the debut of the Sevens game on the Olympic stage in Rio De Janeiro in 2016.
“It’s so special for New Zealand because we are such extreme rugby fans. And New Zealand will get behind them like they get behind all New Zealanders and hopefully we can all bring home gold medals.
“I can relate to the Sevens the best out of any Kiwi because BMX was a brand new sport too and I was the first Kiwi to represent it. It is totally different. The excitement around the Olympics is incomparable to any competition I have been too. Just enjoy it, that’s the most important part. The thing I took from it, was that I had a job to do, not to completely ignore what is going around me but to accept it is there, do the business and then enjoy it after it.”
And she had some handy advice for our IRB World Series champion men.
“The All Blacks Sevens are obviously legends and as long as they keep doing what they know they can do and don’t get caught up with everything they will be fine.”
Double sculls gold medallist Joseph Sullivan, with partner Nathan Cohen, out sprinted the field over the last 500m in London to claim New Zealand’s first gold of the event and seventh rowing gold at Olympics. The keen rugby fan knows how special Rio will be for rugby.
“Rio will be fantastic for rugby, it will get the game out more worldwide for sure. A lot of the world hasn’t really heard about rugby so this will really put it on the map.
“The Olympics is going to be awesome and they are going to love it and the Olympics are just going to embrace it. Hopefully it doesn’t clash with us because I want to watch it. It’s going to be fun.
And his advice?
“The most important thing we found was just take it back to zero. Everyone still wants that same medal. If you put everyone on the same playing field, you are not going to underestimate anyone and be caught by surprised. You are going to be prepared and ready for it.”
