US Rugby Unveils Squad for Paris Games
Lauren Doyle, Alev Kelter to Lead Medal Push
Round 1 of the Rugby World Cup 2021 gets underway on August 11, 2024, at Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu in Japan, and the United States Rugby Sevens team is ready to make a run at their first Olympic medal.
Three-time Olympians Lauren Doyle and Alev Kelter will headline the 12-woman squad, which was announced by Head Coach Rob Cain on Monday. Doyle, a two-time World Rugby Women's Sevens Series Player of the Year, will be making her fourth Olympic appearance, while Kelter will be making her third.
Joining the team for a day of practice on Thursday was track and field Olympian Gabby Thomas, who is currently training for the 2024 Paris Games. Thomas, who won the bronze medal in the 200 meters at the Tokyo Olympics, is looking to gain some experience playing rugby before making a decision about whether or not to pursue a dual-sport career.
"I'm just here to learn and have some fun," Thomas said. "I'm a big fan of rugby, and I think it's a great sport. I'm just trying to pick up some of the basics and see if it's something that I might want to pursue in the future."
The US Women's Rugby team has made steady progress in recent years, and they are now ranked fourth in the world. They won the bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and they will be looking to improve on that performance in Paris.
"We're excited about this team," Cain said. "We have a good mix of experience and youth, and we think we have the potential to be a medal contender in Paris."
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