At school she was “good at everything” now Evania Pelite has a Rio Olympic gold medal

AS a Year 3 pupil at Hercules Road State School, Evania Pelite loved her sport. Fast forward to this morning and her love and dedication has earned her a Rio Olympic gold medal.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL — AUGUST 08: Evania Pelite of Australia scores a try against Kelly Brazier of New Zealand during the Women's Gold Medal Rugby Sevens match between Australia and New Zealand on Day 3 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Deodoro Stadium on August 8, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

EVANIA Pelite — described by former teacher Gavin Irvine as a “terrific athlete” — helped the Australian Rugby Sevens team claim Olympic gold on Tuesday.

The Australian team, which didn’t exist four years ago, beat New Zealand 24-17 in the gold medal match at Deodoro Stadium in Rio.

Pelite, who as a 17-year-old in 2013 told the Redcliffe and Bayside Herald her future goal was the Olympics in Rio, scored the second try for Australia against New Zealand.

The former Hercules Road State School and St Columban’s College student moved from Deception Bay to Sydney three years ago to help make her goal a reality.

Australia's Charlotte Caslick (L) and Australia's Evania Pelite celebrate victory in the women’s rugby sevens gold medal match between New Zealand and Australia during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Deodoro Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 8, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / John MACDOUGALL

Irvine, who taught Pelite in Year 3 and Year 5, said she was very involved in sport, including touch football, volleyball, athletics and cross country, during her time at Hercules Road.

Irvine said Pelite was “quiet and shy”, but definitely shone in the sporting arena.

Irvine fundraised to help get Pelite to different representative sporting events and was gifted a trophy by her family, which still has pride of place at his house, as thanks.

“She has always been a stand out ... she was good at everything,” Irvine, who liked Pelite because she laughed at his jokes, said.

“I always knew there was something special about her sporting wise.”

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland said credit must go to Pelite for scoring a try in the gold medal match and “playing with a lot of guts and determination throughout the whole tournament”.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL — AUGUST 08: Evania Pelite of Australia scores a try against Kelly Brazier of New Zealand during the Women's Gold Medal Rugby Sevens match between Australia and New Zealand on Day 3 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Deodoro Stadium on August 8, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

“We couldn’t be prouder of Evania and her teammates. This is a very historic time for our girls to win the first ever rugby sevens competition in the Olympic Games,” Sutherland said.