Double Olympic gold medallist Portia Woodman-Wickliffe admitted she saved her worst performance for last in the Olympic final.
Prior to the Games, she had announced her retirement from international rugby after Paris.
On Wednesday, the 33-year-old capped off her career on a high note as the Black Ferns sevens team defeated Canada, securing back-to-back gold medals and New Zealand’s first in Paris.
Despite the triumph, Woodman-Wickliffe was critical of her own performance.
“I think I played my worst game out there – a yellow card and another penalty. Man, that was terrible, I thought I learned my lesson from Rio,” she told the media afterward.
The game saw her receiving a yellow card for a high tackle on Charity Williams, and New Zealand trailing Canada 12-7 at halftime.
Woodman-Wickliffe said the team still believed in their ability to win.
“It was just about being who we are and keeping things simple and just loving the game. I think that’s what we showed out there.”
Winning gold and wearing the fern was a “privilege.”
“To do it with these girls, we’ve got some young players coming through the ranks and players who have been together a long time, through a lot of highs and lows. [I’m] Grateful.”
When asked about her future plans, she humorously replied, “Lounging on the couch, eating Maccas and KFC and popping out babies.”
Woodman-Wickliffe is married to Renee and they have a daughter.
Her illustrious career also includes two 15-a-side Rugby World Cups, two Commonwealth Games medals, a silver Olympic medal from Rio, and the distinction of being the first woman to score 200 tries in Rugby World Sevens Series.
Tyla King, New Zealand’s most capped women’s sevens player, also announced that Paris would be her last tournament.
Teammate Stacey Waaka praised the departing players as “awesome humans” and highly skilled athletes.
“The mana and the respect they hold within the girls within the group – it’s going to be missed but we send them off with our blessings.”
Waaka told Sky Sport it was special to help them win gold in their final match.
“It’s a surreal feeling, surreal moment. Some [players] in their first Olympic campaign, some second and for some it’s their last. To see those girls off and to seize this opportunity we had, I’m speechless really.”