No Tokyo Games for rugby sevens gold medalist Emilee Cherry

By: The Associated Press Posted: 10:12 PM CDT Thursday, May. 27, 2021 Last Modified: 11:17 PM CDT Thursday, May. 27, 2021

Advertise with us

SYDNEY (AP) — Emilee Cherry won’t be at the Tokyo Olympics to help Australia defend the gold medal it won in women's rugby sevens at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

SYDNEY (AP) — Emilee Cherry won’t be at the Tokyo Olympics to help Australia defend the gold medal it won in women's rugby sevens at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/05/2021 (1587 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SYDNEY (AP) — Emilee Cherry won’t be at the Tokyo Olympics to help Australia defend the gold medal it won in women’s rugby sevens at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Cherry, a former women’s sevens player of the year, gave birth to a daughter in 2019 but made a return to rugby in pursuit of another Olympics. She announced her retirement Friday, ruling herself out of the Australian team when the games begin on July 23.

“I have had some incredible experiences throughout my rugby journey, from debuting in 2012, a gold medal win in Rio, and the birth of my daughter Alice,” Cherry said in a Rugby Australia statement.

FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2016, file photo, Australia's Emilee Cherry, right, scores a try as Canada's Karen Paquin, defends during the women's rugby sevens semi final match at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Cherry, the former women's sevens player of the year who gave birth to a daughter in 2019 announced Friday, May 28, 2021, that she's retiring and won't be in the Australian team when the Tokyo Olympic Games begin on July 23. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

Cherry was a founding member of the full-time rugby sevens program in Australia in 2012 and made her international debut in the World Series in Dubai. A career highlight was Australia’s 24-17 win over New Zealand when rugby sevens made its Olympic debut in 2016.

The 28-year-old Cherry told local media that concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic might also have affected her decision to retire.

“My body has told me it’s had enough, and the COVID situation with schedules changing so much, and juggling Alice and childcare and (husband) Dan’s schedule . . . we made the decision to step back and play a support role going into Tokyo,” Cherry told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph newspaper. “I have been emotional about the decision and some of the girls have tried to talk me out of it.”

Australian women’s coach John Manenti said Cherry’s leadership would be missed.

“Emilee has given so much to the team, program and jersey, and it’s sad to see her go,” Manenti said.