RUGBY SEVENS: Chloe Dalton is in a better position than most to appreciate what it takes to succeed at the top-level in multiple sports.
The women’s rugby sevens forward transitioned from basketball to rugby sevens just over two years ago but the 23-year-old from Mona Vale on Sydney’s northern beaches is still fascinated by the prospect of swapping stories with Australia’s finest athletes from other sports in the Olympic Village.
“It was so cool to chat to [weightlifters] Tia Toomey and Simplice Riboeum on the way to our press conference this afternoon about their backgrounds, training and competitions and to find out what they have been doing to prepare for the Games,” revealed Dalton. “They’re obviously world-class athletes themselves so it was an awesome opportunity to chat to them too.
“It was also a good chance on that first day to say hello to fellow athletes. Speaking to Tia it was interesting that she said how cool it would be to play in a team sport, training together and travelling the world together.”
Dalton appears to have surprised herself at the speed of her ascent to national team selection and latterly Olympic selection. Curiously for a former WNBL player with the Sydney Uni Flames, Dalton has cemented the berth of specialist kicker in coach Tim Walsh’s side.
Dalton scored 110 points, including 45 conversions, as Australia won its maiden Sevens World Series title in May.
“I had absolutely no idea how the speed of my transition from one sport to the other would have played out. It’s incredible to think I’m here in Rio representing Australia.
“It’s really not a natural progression to come from basketball to being a specialist kicker in rugby sevens,” she admits. “I don’t know how I became to be a pretty good kicker, perhaps it was kicking a footy around with my brothers in the back yard growing up – though they’re not great kickers themselves so I won’t be giving them that credit – it just came relatively naturally. I was also able to put in a lot of hours – a lot of hours – when I broke my arm to keep on working on my kicking.”
After moving into the Olympic Village on Monday the women’s rugby sevens team, top seeds for the tournament which kicks off on day one of the Games at Deodoro Stadium, continues its preparations tomorrow with a training session at Rio’s Air Force Club before having the opportunity to meet close friends and family on Wednesday.
“I’ve got my parents coming over, my cousins, auntie and uncle – they got to watch me at Narrabeen against Japan last month in our trial series but for them to be in South America to watch me compete at the Olympic is huge. I’m absolutely honored they have put in that effort to be here.”
Dalton added: “Over the next five days leading into competition, it will just be about preparation, making sure we’re not getting overwhelmed with everything that’s going on in the village, making sure we’re making sure we’re primed and ready for action on day one.”
“Nervous? More like nervous excitement, let’s go with that! We just want to get out there, play that first game and then I’m sure we’ll realise that it’s the same size pitch with the same amount of players.”
Perhaps though Dalton has already met her greatest challenge having fronted a packed press conference with a large throng of international media alongside team-mate Ellia Green at the Main Press Centre this afternoon.
“It was actually quite nerve wracking out there up on that stage, it felt very formal. I guess it made it feel even more real that we’re actually at an Olympic Games.
“It actually felt like I’d won Wimbledon or something with the microphone in front of me!”
STEVE STAMMERS
olympics.com.au
