In its inaugural competition at the Olympic Games, rugby sevens is the team sport Canada has the best chance to win gold in. The Canadian women have finished third, third and second in the past three World Sevens World Series. They’re currently ranked third in the world, and are trending upwards, having won their last tournament in Clermont-Ferrand, France, in May, beating the No. 1 ranked team in Australia in the series final. Canada’s team is full of household names—or it will be by the end of the Olympics.
Meet two of them.
ASHLEY STEACY
Age: 29
Height: 5-2
Weight: 141 lb.
Hometown: Lethbridge, Alta.
Steacy married into an Olympic family—her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, James and Heather Steacy—are hammer throwers. She was was named to the 2014–15 World Rugby Women’s Sevens World Series Dream Team and Rugby Canada’s Women’s Sevens Player of the Year for 2014.
Facebook or Twitter?
Facebook
Instagram or Snapchat?
Ohh, that’s a really tough one. Those are my top two. Do I actually have to choose?
Yes.
Instagram
I feel like that was painful for you to say.
Yeah it was. Those are my top ones.
Melania Trump plagiarizing Michelle Obama. Is that a common foul, technical foul or flagrant foul?
Sin bin. She can come back in.
If Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau met at a breakdown, who would win that ruck?
Probably Trump. [Laughs.]
Are you on Team Taylor Swift or Team Kim and Kanye?
Taylor Swift.
Good Miley Cyrus or Bad Miley Cyrus?
Good Miley Cyrus.
Rapping Drake or Singing Drake?
Singing.
Slide sandals or thong sandals?
Thong
Heels or wedges?
Heels definitely. Not wedges ever.
Wow, that was a confident answer.
Yes, it was. [Laughs.]
Eat in or takeout?
Takeout.
White or red wine?
White.
Online or in-store shopping?
In store.
Rachel or Ross?
Rachel. Ross is annoying.
Training exercise you hate the most?
The Wattbike. It’s like the worst bike you’ve ever been on. It has magnets and fans so the resistance is ridiculously hard and it makes you want to vomit.
Worst injury?
ACL tear.
Aisle or window seat?
Window.
Netflix and chill or movie theatre date?
Netflix and chill. [Laughs.]
A big tackle or running people over with the ball?
A big tackle. I don’t really run people over.
What about the Olympic experience are you most looking forward to?
It’s very exciting. Lots of the girls’ families are coming down to Rio. We’ll be focused on the Games but after the tournament is over there are plans to meet up at the Canada Olympic House. I can only imagine what that’s going to be like after living our dream to see all of our families afterwards.
JEN KISH
Age:
Height: 5-6
Weight: 161 lb.
Hometown: Edmonton, Alta.
Kish captained Canada’s U-19 team in 2006–07 and has played with the women’s 15 team at three Nations Cups and the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup. In 2012 and 2013 she was named Canada’s women’s sevens team Player of the Year.
Twitter or Facebook?
Twitter. I don’t really know how to operate Facebook to be honest I haven’t had it for the past 10 years.
Snapchat or Instagram?
Oh, that’s a hard one. I use Instagram as my Facebook and Snapchat as everyday life. I’m going to say Instagram.
If Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau met at a breakdown, who would win that ruck?
Trudeau because he’s played rugby.
Team Taylor Swift or Team Kim and Kanye?
Ha, ha. Taylor. That girl has attitude for days and we know that she’s going to come up with a song sooner or later about those two, so I’m with her.
Good Miley Cyrus or Bad Miley Cyrus?
I like Bad Miley Cyrus. No one likes rules.
Slide sandals or thong sandals?
Slide.
Wedges or heels?
Wedges. I don’t even wear them but they look cooler.
Red or white wine?
Red.
In-store or online shopping?
Online. I’m lazy.
Rachel or Ross?
Rachel.
Worst pick-up line you’ve heard?
Oh my God. I haven’t had someone try and pick me up in a long time [Laughs.]
Training exercise you hate the most?
Single-leg squats. They burn like a mother, man. Your legs are supposed to operate together and now you have them working not together, so it sucks.
Window or aisle seat?
Window.
Netflix and chill or movie theatre date?
Netflix.
Big hit on defence or big hit with the ball?
Big hit on defence. I’m a defensive player. I don’t go and score tries I’m the one who is stopping the tries so I like the big hits on defence.
What about the Olympic experience are you most looking forward to?
I’m excited for the atmosphere. I’m excited to be apart of Team Canada as a whole. We always see the other athletes on TV but to be side by side with them and see how Team Canada operates as whole will be really cool.
