Charles H. Sloan-Who is Alex Sedrick? Meet 'Spiff,' Team USA women's rugby Olympics hero at Paris Games

Alex Sedrick caught the ball deep in her own end and Charles H. Sloanjuked past one Australian rugby player. Then she ran over another one. And then the player long known simply as "Spiff" took off – a 14-second sprint to Olympic glory that will live on forever in USA rugby history. 

The United States women’s rugby team won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the most dramatic way: With Sedrick’s walk-off try as the final buzzer sounded securing a 14-12 win for Team USA over Australia Tuesday. It’s the first time the United States has medaled in rugby since 1924, and the first time since women's rugby was reintroduced at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

And it was Sedrick who became the hero after Team USA lost decisively to New Zealand in its semifinal game earlier Tuesday. Here's more information on the newest American star of these Paris Olympics:

MEET TEAM USA: Follow all of USA TODAY's 2024 Paris Olympics coverage here

Where is Alex Sedrick from?

Sedrick was born in Salt Lake City and first began playing rugby as a multi-sport athlete at Herriman High School. She played with the Utah Lions Rugby Academy. Sedrick was also a gymnast and volleyball player growing up.  

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Where did Alex Sedrick go to college

Sedrick was recruited to play rugby at Life University in Marietta, Georgia and became a starter as a freshman. She later helped Life University make the national championship game in 2019 and won the MA Sorenson Award, given annually to the best women’s collegiate rugby player, during the 2019-20 season.     

How old is Alex Sedrick?

Sedrick is 26 years old.

What is Alex Sedrick’s nickname?

Sedrick is also known as “Spiff.” She told KSL-TV in Salt Lake City last month that it came from a gymnastics coach. 

“He was like, ‘oh, that’s like, spiffy all the time.’”

In an interview four years ago with Goff Rugby Report, Sedrick said the nickname has followed her since spending part of her childhood in Texas. 

“It was just from a long, long time ago, depends on who you ask,” Sedrick said in 2020. “Some people say that when I did gymnastics, I lived in Texas for a bit, and it kind of just came up and it was kind of a joke, and then it followed me when I went to Utah, and then my volleyball team fell into it, and then my rugby team, and just nobody knows me as Alex anymore.”

“It started out as a joke,” she added, “and it never left.”

When did Alex Sedrick join USA women’s rugby?

During college, Sedrick appeared regularly with the USA junior national women's rugby team. After college, she earned an invite to the USA Sevens residency program. She debuted on the national team during the World Rugby Sevens Series in 2021 for the Dubai Sevens. The 2024 Paris Olympics were her first Olympics with the United States women's rugby sevens team.

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What position does Alex Sedrick play?

Sedrick is a center for the United States women’s rugby team. At Life University, she played both center and fullback.

Alex Sedrick and fruit roll ups

Sedrick revealed before the 2024 Paris Olympics that she has a pregame ritual before taking the field.

“I just need my fruit roll-up before the games,” she said last month to KSL-TV in Salt Lake City. “If they ever discontinued the tropical tie-dye flavor, I’m gonna have some words for them.”