Michaela Blyde
New Zealand Olympian: 1394
New Zealand Olympian: 1394
EVENT: Women’s Rugby 7’s
Taranaki speedster Michaela Blyde developed her pace on the athletics track before following in her mother’s footsteps and taking up rugby for her provincial union.
A former New Plymouth Girl's High School student, Blyde made her first appearance in the black jersey at the Oceania Sevens in Noosa while still at school.
Blyde had a breakthrough season in 2016/17, as top try and point scorer in the World Series, named DHL Impact Player of the Series and picked up the World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year award.
She became the first female player to win back-to-back World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year titles when claiming the award in 2018 and she was part of the Olympic Gold medal-winning side at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.