Olympian’s triumphant visit
South Taranaki’s favourite Olympian has been sharing her success and her medal with young fans.
Gayle Broughton, who won a silver medal with the New Zealand Women’s Sevens in Rio de Janeiro on August 9, has visited a number of schools since returning to New Zealand last week.
‘‘I came straight home,’’ she said.
‘‘I want to give back to this community what they gave to me. It’s great being able to share this medal with them.’’
The handsome silver medal around the 20-yearold’s neck was handled and admired by children from several schools.
Broughton visited Tawhiti, Hawera Primary and Hawera Intermediate Schools, and Te Kura Kaupapa O Te Ngaruahine, sharing her experiences in Rio with the New Zealand Olympic team.
Although the NZ women lost to Australia in the final, Broughton said she was pleased to win any medal and delighted with the team’s efforts.
She said she also enjoyed life in the Olympic village.
The food was ‘‘OK’’ and everything in the village shopping centre, from haircuts to supermarket items, was free.
Her grandmother, Patsy Broughton, watched her play in Rio de Janeiro and accompanied her to the schools, still beaming with pride.
’’I was so proud to be there, words can not explain how you feel. It was wonderful.’’
And Gayle said she would honour her pre-games promise to give her medal to her grandmother, once she had finished sharing it with the community.
‘‘She’s always been there for me; from the first day of school, to caring for me when I was sick, to taking me to my trainings,’’ Broughton said in July.
‘‘She’s just always seen something in me that I haven’t seen.
‘‘Now I get to do what I love and get paid for it. It’s the dream job.’’
Broughton was 17 years old when she was called to join the New Zealand Women’s sevens squad in 2014.
It was a big year for Broughton.
She won the Paddy Manu Jnr Sports Award for Excellence and the senior sports award.
She also moved to Tauranga to live and train seven days a week with her team and coach.