"It's been a crazy ride": Black Ferns Sevens captain Hirini relives emotional journey from injury to Olympics gold

Just over three weeks removed, Sarah Hirini admits the reality of her gold medal triumph with the Black Ferns Sevens at Paris 2024 still hasn't quite sunk in.

Back home after a well-earned European summer holiday, Hirini has been taking her prize on a tour of the schools surrounding her home in Papamoa and gets daily reminders from locals on the street about what she's accomplished and how much it's meant to Kiwis.

"I don't think it has yet," Hirini told SENZ's Afternoons with Staffy, when asked if the win had yet hit home.

"We took the medal to Te Puke Primary school this morning and just seeing the teacher's reactions to it and all the kids touching the medal and stuff, I think that makes it feel a little bit more real. Walking around Papamoa at the supermarket and people are yelling out congratulations.

"But yeah, it's been a pretty crazy ride."

Standing atop the podium after the nail-biting win in the final over Canada was the culmination of one of the most challenging journeys of Hirini's career.

She had to work her way back to full fitness from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee suffered in last season's world series opener at Dubai in December, which forced her to miss the rest of the schedule.

In fact, Hirini agrees simply making it to France as part of Cory Sweeney's squad was as much of a win as clinching New Zealand's second straight women's sevens gold medal.

"I think so too. I was probably a lot more emotional making the squad than I was winning.

"Not in a bad way. I was bloody stoked after that game. But the journey I had gone on the past seven months to get to that point - I almost said to myself I can't lose now, whatever happens.

"I definitely wanted to win but there was no point in worrying about whether we were going to win or not, I was just so happy to be there and to get a chance to compete with the team again."

Adding to that plight was the fact she played through multiple facial fractures in the final, where she played a critical hand in their 19-12 victory.

Reflecting on that moment of leading the team onto Stade de France for the final, Hirini is overcome with emotion.

"Just reliving that moment brings lots of tears," Hirini told host Mark Stafford. "I could not believe that I am here.

"It was one of the most incredible atmospheres that I'd ever been a part of, ever played in front of. I'm glad that the French people love New Zealand as well, so we got quite cheers while we were over there.

“I was emotional to the point that I was so happy I got to play footy again. I get to run around with my sisters and play the game that I love in front of all of these people.

"It was a pretty incredible moment and then it was like 'right, I've got to do my job now'."

Listen to the full interview below: