Rising Lionesses stun Australia in extra time to claim historic Olympic gold

The young Kenyan side delivered a remarkable performance, overcoming one of the tournament favorites to secure the country’s first-ever gold medal in the event and write a new chapter in Kenya’s rugby history.

The dramatic victory capped an impressive campaign for the Rising Lionesses, who demonstrated resilience, determination, and attacking quality throughout the competition.

Kenya headed into the final seeking revenge against Australia, who had beaten them 17–5 in their final pool match. However, the Lionesses rose to the occasion when it mattered most, producing a spirited display to overturn that earlier setback and claim the ultimate prize.

The final was tightly contested, with neither side able to establish a decisive advantage during normal time. With the scores level at the end of regulation, the contest went into extra time, where Kenya found the breakthrough to seal a memorable 17–12 victory.

The triumph was particularly sweet for the Kenyan youngsters, who had shown their potential from the opening matches before negotiating a challenging knockout stage.

Kenya booked its place in the gold-medal match after defeating Madagascar 15–5 in the semi-finals.

Evalyne Afande and Mitchel Abuga were instrumental in that victory, with Abuga crossing twice to help the Lionesses overcome their African rivals.

The semi-final success followed an encouraging pool-stage campaign in which Kenya defeated China 12–5 before registering an emphatic 19–0 win over hosts Senegal.

Their only setback in the preliminary round came against Australia, who claimed a 17–5 win to finish top of the pool.

However, the defeat did little to derail Kenya's ambitions as the youngsters regrouped and delivered when the stakes were highest.

The gold medal represents a significant breakthrough for Kenyan rugby, particularly the development of the women's game and its emerging generation of players.

The Rising Lionesses' achievement underlines the potential of Kenya's youth rugby structures and provides fresh encouragement for the country's ambitions on the international sevens stage.