Leadership through movement: Canada's Keyara Wardley a key cog in women's rugby 7s run

The Olympics are a time where nothing can be predicted. There are wins, losses and stories that grow from the least likely places.

Who might have predicted that one of the forces from Canada's women's rugby sevens would emerge from Vulcan, Alta. A small town one hour and twenty minutes south of Calgary. From that small town comes one of the leaders and heroes of Canada's rugby program.

Keyara Wardley, now 24, was one of the youngest players on the squad in Tokyo, and now finds herself as one of the vets on this well-seasoned team. The journey has not been seamless but it has come with learnings on how to lead, how to move and how to inspire.

After defeating France during the quarterfinals in front of a sold-out crowd at Stade de France in Paris on Monday, Canada's rugby sevens team is moving forward and will play for a medal Tuesday morning. The team has a history of being deeply connected, gritty and passionate.

Connecting as a team in rugby is not unlike any other team except that they are so close (literally piled on top of each other at times) and physically using their bodies to shield each other and pass in a manner that helps their player get ahead and score a try.

The movements have to happen in a certain way at a certain time. Earlier this year, the senior rugby sevens beat New Zealand, a country with storied accomplishments in the sport. Looking forward to Paris 2024, the team of 12 women and one alternate, have again proven that a demanding schedule is no match for a cohesive unit.

In fact, they present such a strong group that a game as rough as rugby becomes a symphony of movements like a group of dancers. The pitch becomes a veritable stage where they are moving with a rhythm, passing with intention and