Evania’s path to Olympic glory

THE road to Olympic glory is a long and arduous one — and it is one the family of all athletes take together. Vivii Pelite shares the journey of her daughter, Rugby Sevens darling Evania Pelite.

Australia's Evania Pelite, scores a try during the women's rugby sevens gold medal match against New Zealand at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

EVANIA Pelite has always been her mother Vivii’s little baby.

But now she has to share.

Because at 21, Pelite is the baby of the Australian Rugby Sevens side that carved its way to gold at the Rio Olympics.

The journey all started on the ovals of St Columbans College at Caboolture, where a visit from former Australian captain Rebecca Tavo convinced the talented young touch footballer to take a chance on a new sport.

It was not a decision that sat well with Vivii at the time.

“I was very upset,” she said.

Australia's Evania Pelite runs with the ball in the women’s rugby sevens match between Australia and USA during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Deodoro Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 7, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Pascal GUYOT

“I’m a mother, I didn’t really cope with it very well.

“But I had to let her go ... now she is the baby of the team (that won Olympic gold).”

A mother’s fear washed away into elation on Tuesday, when Pelite sliced through for a try just before halftime in the side’s 24-17 win over New Zealand in the final.

“It was very surreal,” Evania’s mother Vivii said.

“All those years since she moved away from home, all the sacrifices she made.

“It was just a big sigh of relief, it wasn’t all in vain.”

Evania’s success is likely to be just the start of a gold rush from St Columbans.

Another alumni in Lakeisha Patterson is set to dominate at the Paralympics later this month.

Mayor Allan Sutherland congratulated Evania on her success.

“We couldn’t be prouder of Evania and her teammates,” he said.

“This is a very historic time for our girls to win the first ever rugby sevens competition in the Olympic Games.”