Olympic Medalist Charity Williams Ready for Hong Kong Sevens Debut

Olympic medalist Charity Williams is planning to “have a blast” on her Kai Tak Stadium debut at this week’s Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.

The Canada wing sat out a series of Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) training matches on Saturday, icing her shoulder as her side faced Fiji, Denmark and the city team.

However, there is no danger of “just a little stinger” ruling the 29-year-old out for a second straight year.

“It’s still awesome to be here [HKSI], this is a top-tier facility and it’s been nice to get our feet on the ground and the jet lag out of our bodies,” she said.

A surprise inclusion at the age of 19 for the 2016 Olympics, Williams emerged from the Rio Games with bronze, a result she believes led the sport to become “one of the fastest growing” in North America.

After finishing ninth in Tokyo in 2021, Canada claimed silver in Paris three years later; stunning hosts France in the quarter-finals, then toppling Australia before losing a tight final to New Zealand.