The US women’s rugby team made America proud by winning the bronze medal at the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris.

The sevens rugby team’s bronze medal match against Australia on July 30 stunned spectators when the team scored a game-winning conversion goal just before time expired.

Outstanding 26-year-old Sammy Sullivan brought an additional patriotic atmosphere to the rugby field.

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Sullivan is not only an Olympic medalist, but also captain of the United States Armywhich led fans to call her “Captain America” on social media.

Sammy Sullivan, No. 4 for Team USA, celebrates as she runs into the net and scores her team’s second try during their Women’s Group C match against Brazil on the second day of the Olympic Games on July 28, 2024 in Paris, France. (Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

In an on-camera interview with Fox News Digital, Captain Sullivan expressed her joy at winning a medal at this year’s Games after starting her rugby career at West Point in 2016.

“For me, the army is the ultimate team.”

“I spent the entire four years there playing rugby,” she said.

“That’s where I discovered rugby for the first time because I’ve played football all my life.”

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Sullivan, who is currently stationed in Chula Vista, California, admitted that she “always felt the urge to serve” since her father was a Special Forces Green Beret.

“Seeing how strong his bonds and connections were with the people at work really spoke to me as someone who has always thrived in a team sports environment,” she said.

Sullivan’s brother (left) and father (center) both served in the Army. (Sammy Sullivan)

“For me, the Army is the ultimate team, so I knew that’s where I always wanted to go. That’s why I chose the Military Academy.”

At West Point, Sullivan was promoted to engineer officer and eventually stationed as a route clearance platoon leader at Fort Carson in Colorado. She described this time as “the best time of my life.”

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During her service, she continued to travel to Denver three times a week to play rugby.

“In the background I had this other dream of going to the Olympics as a rugby sevens player,” she said.

Sammy Sullivan is pictured after a victory with the US Army rugby team. (Sammy Sullivan)

When Emilie Bydwell, head coach of the U.S. women’s 7s team, called Sullivan to talk about joining the team, she applied for the World Class Athlete program, which offers Army soldiers the opportunity to compete as Olympians and serve their country.

“It was a great honor for me to be accepted into the World Class Athlete program,” she said.

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The program enabled Sullivan to compete and train full-time with the United States national rugby team for the past two years, eventually leading her to compete in the Olympics.

The now Olympic bronze medalist said that it “doesn’t feel real” to be on the podium with her team and that she is “still on a high”.

Team United States celebrates victory as they pose for a photo following the women’s sevens rugby quarterfinal match between Team Great Britain and Team United States in Paris, France, July 29, 2024. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)

“And (I) really miss my teammates,” she added. “I feel like I have separation anxiety from them because we worked so hard and spent every day together for years.”

Sullivan’s other teammates, her Army buddies, also supported her. “They’re just incredibly proud of me,” she said.

From field to field

Sullivan spoke about how her service in the military affected her performance on the rugby field.

“(Rugby is) a combat sport. There is a lot of adversity on the field, but it is that kind of adversity that brings teammates and sisters (that’s what I call them) closer together,” she said.

“And that’s exactly what happens in the army.”

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“Pushing through these adverse situations together, whether it’s field training in sub-zero temperatures or ultimately deploying to serve our country – that’s something not many people on this earth can say about themselves,” she continued.

“I am truly proud to be part of this community that serves our country.”

Kristi Kirshe #12 and Alev Kelter #5 lift Sammy Sullivan #4 of the United States women’s national team for a lineout during a women’s Group C match between France and the United States on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Alex Ho/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Sullivan said rugby has taught her a lot about leadership and resilience in difficult situations.

“Rugby has taught me a lot about myself, how to deal with stress and it has made me a better police officer,” she said.

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Sullivan said her favorite part of playing rugby at the international level is saluting the American flag before a final game while the national anthem is played.

“To be able to show my patriotism in this way — and how proud I am to represent my country not only as an athlete but also as a soldier in the US Army — brings tears to my eyes every time,” she said.

“How exciting”

This year’s games featured more women than ever before. According to the Olympics, the ratio of men to women is 50/50.

US women’s rugby has also made history: Emilie Bydwell was the first Olympic medal-winning rugby head coach.

Head coach Emilie Bydwell of Team USA watches a women’s rugby 7s semifinal between New Zealand and the United States on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Alex Ho/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

“I feel like people are finally starting to realize how exciting women’s sports can be and how much emotion, how much grit, how much aggression and power there is in it,” Sullivan said.

“It’s OK to be strong and powerful and feminine and beautiful – and all of those things can happen at the same time.”

Sullivan said she hopes the U.S. women’s rugby team can set an example to young girls today that you “want to play like a girl.”

Find a power outlet

Even Olympians need to let off steam, especially when they are involved in a high-pressure competition.

“You can go down a really dark path when your identity and your entire success depends on sport, and I think even Olympians feel that,” Sullivan said.

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Outside of rugby, she shares her love of building with Legos as her own escape from the sport.

“Legos helped me not to put my identity entirely into rugby,” Sullivan told Fox News Digital.

Sammy Sullivan of the United States reacts as she joins her teammates after winning the bronze medal match in women’s rugby sevens at the 2024 Summer Olympics between the United States and Australia on July 30, 2024. The United States won the match 14-12. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

“I want to encourage every young, old and new athlete out there to find something that brings them joy outside of sport.”

As the Paris Olympics come to a close, Sullivan said she has her sights set on the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

Sammy Sullivan #4 of Team USA celebrates her victory in the women’s rugby sevens bronze medal match between Team USA and Team Australia on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

In the meantime, the Army captain hopes to give back to the military community and share her story with other soldiers and recruits who want to “pursue both dreams.”

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“The Army supports us so well in all of our endeavors,” she said. “Any task you can think of, there is a way the Army can get involved.”

“I am truly proud to be part of this community that serves our country.”

Sullivan added that she hopes people will “flock” to watch the rugby team’s games throughout the season, as they “need the support of all of America to compete for gold in 2028.”

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“This sport means so much to me and this team means so much to me,” she said.

“As long as they have me, I will keep playing.”