The US women’s rugby team made America proud by bringing home the bronze medal. 2024 Paris Olympics.

In the rugby sevens bronze medal match against Australia on July 30, the team stunned the crowd by scoring a winning run with time running out.

26-year-old standout Sammy Sullivan brought an extra dose of patriotism to the rugby field.

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In addition to being an Olympic medalist, Sullivan also serves as team captain. United States ArmyThis led to fans on social media calling him “Captain America.”

Team USA’s number 4 Sammy Sullivan celebrates as she runs to score her team’s second point during the Women’s Group C match against Brazil on day two of the Olympic Games in Paris, France on July 28, 2024. (Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

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

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

“I spent four years playing rugby there,” he said.

“That’s where I first got acquainted with rugby, because I’ve been playing football all my life.”

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Sullivan, who now lives in Chula Vista, California, said he “always felt the call to serve” because his father was a Special Forces Green Beret.

“As someone who has always thrived in a team sport environment, I was very drawn to the level of bonds and connections he made with people at work,” he said.

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

“The army is the best team for me, so I always knew I wanted to go there, so I chose the military academy.”

Sullivan was commissioned as an engineer officer from West Point and eventually assigned as a route clearance platoon leader at Fort Carson in Colorado, a post he described as “the most fun time of my life.”

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During his military service, he continued his interest in rugby by traveling to Denver three times a week.

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

Sammy Sullivan was seen following a win with the US Army rugby team. (Sammy Sullivan)

When U.S. Women’s National 7s Head Coach Emilie Bydwell called Sullivan to talk about playing for the team, Sullivan applied to the World Class Athlete program, which allows military service members to serve their country by competing in the Olympics.

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

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The program allowed Sullivan to compete and train full-time with the U.S. rugby team for the past two years, eventually taking him to the Olympics.

The current Olympic bronze medallist said standing on the podium with her team “didn’t feel real” and that she was “still overjoyed”.

Team USA celebrates a victory as they pose for a photo after the Women’s Rugby Sevens Quarterfinal match between Team Great Britain and Team USA in Paris, France on July 29, 2024. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)

“And I really miss my teammates,” he added. “I feel like I have some separation anxiety because we worked so hard and spent every day with each other for years.”

Sullivan’s other teammates, his Army brothers and sisters, also shared their support. “They’re proud of me,” he said.

From field to field

Sullivan explained how being active in Ordu has been reflected in his performance on the rugby field.

“(Rugby) is a combat sport. There are a lot of challenges on the field, but it’s those challenges that bring teammates and sisters (as I call them) closer together,” she said.

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

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“Whether it’s training in sub-zero weather or deploying and serving our country, you go through these adversities together; it’s something that not many people in the world can say they get to do,” he continued.

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

Kristi Kirshe No. 12 and Alev Kelter No. 5 move and put in a linebacker past Sammy Sullivan No. 4 of the United States Women’s National Team 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 he learned a lot about leadership and how to be resilient in difficult situations through rugby.

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

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Sullivan said his favorite part of playing rugby at the international level was saluting the American flag during the national anthem before the final game.

“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 United States Army soldier — “It brings tears to my eyes every time,” he said.

‘How exciting’

This year, the Olympics saw the most female athletes in history. The ratio of athletes participating in the Olympics is 50/50 between men and women.

US women’s rugby also made history; Emilie Bydwell, Women’s rugby head coach wins Olympic medal.

United States team head coach Emilie Bydwell watches the Women’s Medal Semifinal rugby 7s match 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 see how exciting women’s sports can be and how much emotion, courage, aggression and power goes into it,” Sullivan said.

“It’s okay to be strong, powerful, feminine, and beautiful; you can be all of these things at the same time.”

Sullivan said she hopes the U.S. women’s rugby team can show young girls today that “playing like a girl means playing the way you want to play.”

Finding a way out

Even Olympic athletes need some relaxation, especially when they’re involved in high-pressure competition.

“When your entire identity and your entire success is tied to your sport, you can start to go down a really dark path, and I think even Olympians feel that,” Sullivan said.

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Outside of rugby, he also shares his love of building things with Legos as his own outlet to help him get away from the sport.

“Legos were something that allowed me to not put my whole identity into rugby,” Sullivan told Fox News Digital.

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

“I encourage all athletes, young, old and new, to find something outside of their sport that brings them joy.”

Sullivan said that as the Paris Olympics come to a close, the 2028 Los Angeles games are on the horizon.

Team USA’s number 4 player, Sammy Sullivan, celebrates after 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 his story with other soldiers and new recruits who want to “fulfill both dreams.”

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“The Army does a great job of supporting us in all of our efforts,” he said. “Any business you can think of, the Army can be tied into that in some way.”

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

Sullivan said they will “need all the support from America” ​​to win gold in 2028, adding that he hopes people will come out to watch the rugby team’s matches “in large numbers” throughout the season.

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“This sport means a lot to me and this team means a lot to me,” he said.

“As long as they want me, I’ll keep playing.”