Scotland international Lisa Thomson said she is "buzzing” after being named in the Team GB rugby sevens squad for the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.
The 26-year-old has vowed to make her international team-mates Rhona Lloyd and Shona Campbell proud after they both missed the final cut in the 14-strong squad.
It will be the Hawick-born centre’s second experience of the Olympics having been to Tokyo four years ago, where she was propelled into the squad having initially been selected as the travelling reserve.
Thomson said she cannot wait to get to Paris later this summer.
She said: We will to explore a lot more that Tokyo and actually properly experience an Olympics and what it is all about.
“With it being closer to home too hopefully friends and family can get over and fans back home will be able to access it and get involved easier, so I am buzzing to get to Paris and take it all in and play in a stadium with loads of fans as the stadium in Tokyo was empty, which was a bit strange.”
Thomson is one of four players who will be returning from the Tokyo squad, with England pair Emma Uren and Meg Jones also selected. Wales’ Jasmine Joyce will become the first British rugby player to appear at three Olympic Games after also featuring in Rio in 2016.
Thomson knows that while Tokyo was a Covid-affected Olympics, having that experience in the squad could be vital.
She said: “Hopefully those of us who have been to an Olympics before will be able to help those who are going to their first, but equally a lot of us have only been to a Covid Olympics, so I think this one will probably be a lot different - and there will be a lot more people about and a lot more going on.”
The former Scotland captain also revealed how she found out she had made the final cut.
“I was playing in Croatia at the Rugby Europe event a couple of weeks ago and we were finding out that Monday night.
“We all got text messages telling you whether you’d been selected or not and then the full squad got put out on our WhatsApp group.”
Her euphoria would have been in stark contrast to the emotions felt by long-time friend Lloyd and international colleague Campbell.
Thomson, though, is determined to make them proud.
“It is hard, but we are really good friends,” she said.
“I have known Rhona since we were 15 years old and Shona I have known a long time as well so they are hugely happy for me and I am equally devastated for those guys too.
“It was a real mix of emotions on that Monday night, but I’ll do my best to go out there and represent them as well.”
Since representing Team GB in Tokyo, Thomson has had plenty to contend with. Among her achievements, she helped Scotland qualify for, then played at, a first Rugby World Cup in 12 years; and won the WXV2 title.
She said it has been a challenging period.
“This season has been long and pretty difficult at times,” she said.
“It has been mentally challenging with a lot of ups and downs in terms of performances and other things as well as flipping between XVs and sevens so getting in a good head space has been challenging but I have grown as a person and have learnt to cope with those situations.”
The squad will be coached by another Scot, Ciaran Beattie, while former Scotland Sevens captain Scott Riddell will be his assistant.
Thomson – who is one of two non-English players in the 14-strong squad along with Wales’ Joyce, is pleased she is not the only Scottish representative.
She added: "It is good working with them, I love it and it is good to have a few more Scots in and around the group as well.”
Meanwhile, the men’s squad can secure their place in Paris by winning a repechage tournament in Monaco this weekend.
The squad for that tournament features four Scots – captain Robbie Fergusson, Kaleem Baretto, Ross McCann and Max McFarland.
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