Krissy Scurfield, a talented rugby sevens player from Canmore, had her Olympic dreams abruptly halted in a way that no one could have foreseen.
At just 21 years old, the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics is her first olympics.
Known for her speed and strength on the field, Krissy has quickly become a key player for Team Canada.
She is arguably one of the best rugby players in Canada, if not the world.
She is one of the Rugby Sevens League’s top try scorers. She is tied with fellow Canadian Charity Williams for 11th place in the HSBC SVNS Series for most tries.
At the 2024 Vancouver Sevens rugby tournament in February, Scurfield played a key role in helping Canada win the bronze medal match against Australia, the top-ranked team in the HSBC SVNS Series at the time.
For the second time in her career, Scurfield was named to the Vancouver Sevens’ Dream Team, the tournament’s seven best players.
Off the field, Scurfield is a beacon of resilience, admired for her unwavering positive attitude and dedication to her sport. She is always pushing herself and her teammates to give 110 percent, a testament to her indomitable spirit.
But no matter how talented you are, injuries can be unavoidable.
Team Canada faced off against New Zealand, the defending Olympic champions, on July 28 at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
The Canadians finished with a 12-7 lead at halftime, but the match took a turn for the worse in the second half.
With about five minutes left in the second half, Scurfield received the ball and, in a shocking turn of events, collapsed almost immediately afterward.
At a glance, Scurfiend appeared unhurt, but her injuries were more severe than anyone knew at the time.
In an Instagram post, Scurfield stated that she had undergone three CT scans, two ambulance trips, and six blood tests following her injury.
In another post, Scurfield revealed that she had sustained an internal laceration to her kidney. A kidney laceration can cause dizziness, bloody urine, or flank pain.
Flank pain refers to the sensation of pain in the part of the body below the rib and above the ilium, the large bone that makes up part of the pelvis.
Knocked Down, But Not Defeated
After collapsing during her match with New Zealand, Scurfield was seen clutching her lower back, indicating that she was experiencing flank pain.
With a heavy heart, Scurfield told her fans that she would no longer compete in the Olympics due to her injury.
“I am sad, angry, confused, and experiencing so many emotions that I can’t even put a finger on. I am disappointed that I cannot play for my teammates. I am sad I cannot play more games for my friends, family, and country. I am heartbroken,” Krissy wrote in another Instagram post.
But even though she’s hurting, Krissy still finds reasons to be grateful. She’s thankful to be in Paris and proud of her teammates, who inspire her daily.
“I am proud of my country. I am proud of myself. I did all I could when I had my shot, now it’s time for someone else to have theirs,” she expressed.
Despite the loss, Team Canada’s spirit remained unbroken. Their resilience and determination are something to be proud of.
Onwards to Silver
Alternate Taylor Perry has replaced Scurfield on the roster for the remainder of the tournament. After losing to New Zealand, Canada beat China, France, and Australia.
Team Canada faced New Zealand again in the gold final match, but the team lost 19-12, earning Canada a silver medal.
Even though a different outcome might have occurred if Scurfield had been on the field, it’s important to remember the significance of Canada’s historic silver medal in rugby sevens.
Team Canada’s silver medal marks Canada’s best-ever Olympic performance in rugby sevens and the second Olympic medal for Canadian rugby.
“It means everything. I hope we’ve inspired some young girls in Canada to join rugby and grow the game,” said Team Canada’s Chloe Daniels.
Women’s rugby is rapidly becoming one of the most popular sports in the world, offering a promising opportunity for our province’s talented youth athletes to get involved and make their mark.
Scurfield is just 21 years old and proves that it doesn’t matter what town or city you come from as long as you have the determination and attitude to give it your all.
