Bridget Clark

As a 14-year-old, a starry-eyed Bridget Clark posed for a photograph with her sporting hero Charlotte Caslick, who had visited her school. Seven years later she got to run out with her at the Paris Olympics.

Rising NSW star Bridget was brought into the Australian sevens rugby squad early in 2024 as coach Tim Walsh dealt with injuries to senior players.

Growing up in southern Sydney, she idolised Charlotte and the women’s team that won gold at the Rio Olympics. And she was almost lost for words when Charlotte turned up for a school visit in 2017.

Fast-forward seven years and Bridget was called into the Australian side for the 2024 Hong Kong Sevens. She showed her try-scoring prowess by running 50m to score in Australia’s come-from-behind win over France in the bronze medal match.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics Bridget and the team were a perfect three wins from three games in the pool stage. They took care of Ireland in the quarter-finals 40-7 before a strong Canadian team halted Australia's run in the semi-finals, inflicting a 21-12 loss.

In a tense fight for a bronze medal against the USA, the Americans scored a converted try after time expired for a 14-12 score to relegate the Aussies to fourth place.