Olympics dream shattered in 42 minutes before Opening Ceremony

Twelve athletes have had their dreams shattered before the Olympics even begin on a day of drama in Paris.

Players of Team Kenya huddle prior to the Men's Rugby Sevens Pool B game. Photo: Getty Images.

Australia has helped shatter the dreams of 12 athletes more than 24 hours before the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony even begins on Saturday morning (AEST).

Australia’s Rugby Sevens’ team has progressed through to the knockout stages with a perfect three wins from three matches and it came at the expense of Kenya — who are packing their bags while other athletes are preparing for the historic River Seine ceremony that will officially announce the start of the Games.

It will be a bittersweet journey down the Parisian river for Kenya’s men’s rugby sevens team, knowing their entire Olympics campaign was over after just 42 minutes.

The Kenyan team was knocked out after losses to Australia, Argentina and Samoa — becoming the first athletes eliminated from competition in Paris.

Players of Team Kenya huddle prior to a Men's Rugby Sevens Pool B Group match. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

Australian players ring the bell after winning the men's pool B rugby sevens match between Australia and Kenya. Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP.

After losing to Australia 21-7 on the opening day of competition, Kenya’s fate was sealed with a final 26-0 thumping at the hands of Samoa at the Stade de France athletics stadium.

It was Samoa’s first win in Olympics Rugby Sevens competition.

It is the third time Kenya’s men’s rugby sevens team has been knocked out at the Olympics without progressing beyond the group stage.

Somoa players gesture ahead of their men's pool B rugby sevens match. Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP.

While 42 minutes of competition on the world stage is the sort of length swimmers and track sprinters can only dream of, Kenya will have to swallow the history of being one of the few athletes in the modern Olympics to be eliminated before the Opening Ceremony has taken place.

Kenya’s squad of 12 players were only given three matches or six halves (lasting seven-minutes each) to reflect how far the country has come on the World Rugby Sevens Series global tour.

Fortunately Australia’s side had no problems moving through the tricky Group B and made history after taking care of business against America in a one-sided quarterfinal clash.

“Australia have made their way through for the first time ever to a medal match … Momentous win for Australia, no exuberant celebrations, but a big old smile as they go through,” Alicia Lucas said on Stan Sports after the full time whistle.

The dominant win books them into a semi-final showdown against Fiji while France will take on South Africa in the other semi-final.

Originally published as Olympics dream shattered in 42 minutes before Opening Ceremony