New Zealand sevens player Jazmin Felix-Hotham has fought back tears on arrival at the Paris Olympics as she explained her emotions at watching brother Noah Hotham make his Test debut for the All Blacks against Fiji in San Diego at the weekend.
And, in what was yet another sporting success for the family, the siblings’ elder brother, Legin Felix-Hotham, has just won a silver medal representing New Zealand at the Touch World Cup in England.
Jazmin was in a pre-Olympics training camp when Noah was due to make his Test debut off the bench in the All Blacks’ 47-5 victory, and said: “It was a 4.30am wake up. I remember the day before I was kind of going around to the girls [asking] ‘anyone want to wake up with me to watch Noah debut?’
“There are a few look-aways but Sarah, Portia, Georgia were the ones, the soldiers, that decided to get up with me and watch it. Yeah, it was such a special moment.”
Halfback Noah was in action earlier than expected when replacing the injured Cortez Ratima five minutes before halftime. The Crusader impressed with his composure and running game throughout for a hugely successful debut.
Jazmin added: “I just got my lashes done today, so I really can't afford to cry but this week's just been really special for my family to watch Noah put on the black jersey for the first time. I think about me and him being two years apart.
“We grew up training together - sometimes being forced to train together by my dad. But was all for for the dream of a black jersey - both of us - and to watch him be able to put that on was a real special moment alongside this week being able to watch my oldest brother win a silver medal at the Touch World Cup.”
This is Felix-Hotham’s first Olympics proper. The now 24-year-old went to Tokyo as a travelling reserve but watched the entire Games while quarantining in her hotel room due to the Covid restrictions. The Black Ferns won gold in Japan after finishing with a silver medal in Rio de Janeiro four years earlier.
She said being welcomed with a haka by the New Zealand team at the arrival at the Olympic village and receiving her pounamu were special moments.
Felix-Hotham was selected for a New Zealand sevens training squad when in her final year at Hamilton Girls’ High School and helped the Black Ferns sevens win bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The New Zealand men's sevens team will be in action from Thursday morning NZT. They play Japan and South Africa in pool matches.
The Black Ferns begin their programme with matches against China and Canada next Monday morning NZT.
Coach Cory Sweeney said: “We're obviously really excited to watch the boys in a couple of days and I'm sure they'll drive the energy and our group even further. The girls are in a good place and ready for the weekend.”
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