Australia Sevens rookie Kaitlin Shave scan still see the positives of her maiden Olympic campaign even if it lasted just minutes before a devastating injury.
Shave has joined the growing ward of ACL recovery patients after undergoing surgery on her knee following a brief holiday post-Games.
The 23-year-old went down in the opening game against South Africa after Shave collapsed to the turf with a knee injury when she planted her feet to make a turn.
She tried to battle on and made a tackle in defence before her eventual substitution.
It took well after the match before worst fears were confirmed and Shave was replaced in the squad by Kahli Henwood.
“It’s quite a bit of a blur still, but when I first initially did it, I caught the ball and twisted and I think I knew I had done something wrong,” Shave reflected in an interview with Rugby.com.au and RugbyPass and last month.
“It wasn’t enough pain that I thought, ‘Okay, I need to stop here but the thought was ‘maybe I just twisted it a bit awkwardly’ and That’s why I kept playing on. I think the adrenaline definitely helped as well.”
The Queenslander will be pushing for a return towards the end of the SVNS world series, with the final rounds yet to be locked in.
The experience of the major injury and the emotion of the final day failed to damper Shave’s spirits when she reflected on her maiden Games.
“Whenever someone asks me about my Olympic experience I say it was honestly the best experience of my life,” Shave explained
“ It’s what I worked so hard towards for years and years and years since I was little. I always wanted to go to the Olympics.
“Despite the injury, I still had the best time and the whole experience was amazing. If I could go back and change something obviously I would but looking back I’m still very happy and I can still see my whole Olympic experience as a positive.”
Shave can still see the bright sight after a blistering rookie season saw her achieve her Olympic dream.
“I think even looking back on all that I’ve achieved in the past 12 months or less I think it’s definitely a massive pinch me moment,” she believes.
“I still have to shake myself a little bit every day that and look and appreciate all the things that I have achieved.
“I’m very grateful for all the opportunities that I’ve had. I’m sitting here now out for the next season but I’m still in a good mindset because I’m happy with what I achieved last season.
