Paris Olympics: Canada’s Symonds feeling ‘love from Hong Kong’ after rugby sevens silver

Flo Symonds said she felt “so much love and support from Hong Kong” as her Canada team surged to a shock women’s rugby sevens Olympic silver medal in Paris.

The 22-year-old Symonds, who was planning to celebrate with “a few Aperol Spritz” on holiday in Croatia, and a McDonald’s double cheeseburger, grew up in Hong Kong before leaving for her dad’s native country four years ago.

She was part of the city team that lost to China in a final qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics. Not only did she exact revenge on the “incredible, well-drilled” Chinese in France, scoring a try in a pool-stage win, Symonds was instrumental in gripping knockout victories over the despondent hosts and an Australia team that were heavy favourites to reach the final.

Canada threatened an even greater shock when they led New Zealand 12-7 in the gold medal match, before the redoubtable Kiwis recovered for a 19-12 win.

“I’ve had so much love and support from everyone I grew up with in Hong Kong,” Symonds told the Post. “A lot of people I went to school with, but haven’t talked to for a few years, reached out to me. It’s been really nice to feel all the support from back home.

“When I have time to reflect, I will look back to being a little girl in Hong Kong and having these big dreams. For them to come true feels so surreal.”