Fiji’s Terio Veilawa launches an attack against the France defense on day two of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on 25 July 2024 in Paris. Photo: World Rugby / Mike Lee - KLC
To create history with a third consecutive gold medal in Paris is still a tough ask for the Fiji men's sevens team.
The past four matches have been physically draining for the players, especially the pool clash against France and the quarterfinal battle with Ireland.
Written off because of their no-win record in 20-plus tournaments in the HSBC SVNS Series since 2022, the Fijians entered the Olympics as underdogs.
Head coach Osea Kolinisau and captain Jerry Tuwai both believe mental toughness is what the team needs now to go through and make history at the Paris Olympics over the weekend.
Both were there in Brazil in 2016 when the first gold medal was won.
Tuwai returned to Tokyo in 2022 and led the team to repeat the win.
Kolinisau is back as coach and wanting to become the first coach to have won an Olympic sevens rugby gold medal and claim a gold medal as the winning coach.
Tuwai is in for this third event and a chance to re-write history again.
Kolinisau said mental toughness is what got them through against Ireland and he believes that is critical for his players, as they head into the medal play-offs on Sunday.
"Our biggest rivals is ourselves," he said.
"And if we get it right up here people will be catching shadows in the ground.
"It is something that we are focusing on to make sure we are switched on at the right moments. Mentality plays a huge part."
Fiji team huddle before the game against Uruguay on day one of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on 24 July 2024 in Paris. Photo: World Rugby / Mike Lee - KLC
Tuwai, who did not play any part in the team's campaign during the 2022/23 series under former coach Ben Gollings, had to get himself fit for the call-up.
He said going into the last part of the event demands they are mentally fit as well.
"For us it's all mentality. Our mentality is one big thing for us to get it right before we come to the stadium," he said.
"We've the fitness, physical fitness and spiritually. Mentally we can shut down.
"This is the biggest sports event in the world, and anything can happen."
Fiji meets Australia in the second semifinal at 2am on Sunday.
The side came from 15-7 down to beat Ireland 19-15 in the quarterfinals.
Favourites New Zealand and Argentina both lost out in the quarters.
Argentina who was the form team this season in the World Series were shocked by hosts France 26-14.
In the first quarterfinal, South Africa, who lost two pool games, defeated New Zealand 14-7.
South Africa came through as one of the two best third finishers from pool play, while New Zealand came out on top of its group.
The first semifinal between South Africa and France kicks off at 1.30am.
Samoa’s cuts through the Australia defense on day one of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on 24 July, 2024 in Paris. Photo: World Rugby / Mike Lee - KLC
Samoa plays off for ninth spot
Meanwhile, the Samoa team will fight off for ninth spot, following two good wins on Friday morning.
Having faced a challenging start with two losses to Australia and Argentina, the side sprung back to record wins against Kenya and Japan.
They dominated Kenya 26-0 in their third Pool A match and secured a resounding 42-7 win against Japan in the play-off for the ninth to 12th positions.
They face Kenya again on Sunday, following Kenya's victory over Uruguay earlier today (Friday).
Hosts France and South Africa will meet in the other semifinal.
Argentina, Ireland and New Zealand are all out of medal contention after losing their quarterfinals matches.
Other teams to compete
And some of the Pacific Islands athletes will be flying their country's colours as their respective competition rolls off, following the opening ceremony.
This includes Archery, women's rugby, badminton, boxing, sailing and surfing, which will run over the next five days.
Fiji will be the only Pacific Island country in women's rugby, the team having won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Taekwondo and weightlifting will begin on 7 August.
The Games will round off competition on the 11 August.