Black Ferns Sevens defend Olympic crown to secure NZ's first gold of Paris 2024

The Black Ferns Sevens are back-to-back Olympic champions.

But getting there didn't come easy, overcoming a 12-7 deficit to narrowly defeat Canada 19-12.

Risi Pouri-Lane scored the opening try two minutes in before Portia Woodman-Wickliffe received a yellow card for dangerous play in the 5th minute, leaving NZ with six on the park.

Canada's Chloe Daniels and Alysha Corrigan both took advantage to be ahead at the break, but Michaela Blyde put her influence on the match at the beginning of the second half, tearing through the Canadian defence to level the scores.

Tyla King's conversion put NZ up 14-12, and from there the Canadians piled on the pressure to keep the defending champions in their own half, with NZ's lack of discipline around the ruck adding tension. But a breakaway by Sarah Hirini set up Stacey Waaka in the corner to ice the game.

After the final whistle, a bloodied Sarah Hirini spoke with Sky Sport.

"To be honest, I'm bloody sore. My face hurts, I'm so happy," Hirini said, doing what she can to not drop any further blood.

"I don't know how to put that into words. What this crowd has done for us over the last few days, what Aotearoa has done for us, getting up in the middle of the night to watch us, we feel you, we hear you, we see you.

"This one is for you guys. We're bringing that gold medal back to Aotearoa."

Coming into Paris 2024, King and Woodman-Wickliffe had announced this would be their last tournament as they farewell international rugby sevens - both close their careers on their terms with another Olympic gold medal around their necks.

Women's rugby sevens was introduced as an Olympic sport in 2016, Australia won the gold medal at Rio, beating NZ 24-17 in the gold medal match. But since that day, this event has been dominated by the Black Ferns Sevens. Winning at Tokyo 2020 against France, and now successfully defending their crown at a buzzing Stade de France.

The Australians were upset by USA in the bronze medal match, 14-12, Alex Sedrick scoring the match-winning try and conversion at full-time.