Shalaya Valenzuela hopes rugby 7s silver medal will inspire other Indigenous youth to pursue sport

Shalaya Valenzuela, a member of the Tseshaht First Nation on Vancouver Island, is still basking in the glow of the silver medal she won as a member of Canada's women's rugby 7's at the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

The feeling hasn't fully set in yet for the 25-year-old, who is the only Indigenous athlete on the team. 

"To throw on my Canadian jersey and run out of that tunnel with 70,000 people watching, it's a moment that I didn't think was ever gonna happen," Valenzuela said. 

The team reached the Olympic final for the first time (Canada won bronze in Rio 2016), and though it ended in a 19-12 loss to top-ranked New Zealand, for Valenzuela, the medal was a dream come true. 

"Being Indigenous myself, being from a small town and also being a youth in [foster care], I think I can relate to a lot of youth," Valenzuela said. 

Valenzuela said that she hopes that Indigenous youth who spent time in foster care know that they too can make it far in their dreams. 

"Anything is possible. I made it so there's no reason why they can't as well," Valenzuela said. 

She says she hopes to do more with Indigenous communities. 

"Now having this title just gives me way more leadership opportunities. Especially for Indigenous youth, I can be such a big role model for my people," she said.

Valenzuela has been receiving a lot of support from her community members, family, and even distant family members that she hasn't spoken to in years. 

"I think it's just such a special feeling because although I didn't grow up in Port Alberni or around my people, everyone's reached out," said Valenzuela, who is a resident of Abbotsford, B.C.

She says she's felt so loved with the overwhelming amount of support. 

"Even though maybe they're not the closest to me, it's just so special to me to feel connected to them. It's honestly the most connected I've ever felt," said Valenzuela.

Valenzuela was part of the reserve team, which means she subs in when teammates are injured. She took the role to make her team better. 

"My biggest role was to push my team as hard as I could. It's going 100 per cent whether on defence or attacking, even going 100 per cent on your own teammates," she said.

The team has been working hard for the last three years. Up until this year, the team was ranked ninth in the world. 

Valenzuela said their coach, Jack Hanratty, would list all the things the team needed to do to go from ninth to No. 1.

"I think everyone sort of kind of rolled their eyes and thought that maybe it's a bit hard to achieve that in one year," said Valenzuela. 

Team Canada's rugby team practised together everyday from Monday to Friday at their training facility near Victoria, B.C. Sometimes double sessions of field practices and conditioning to boost their strength and fitness. 

"I'm just overwhelmed with happiness. I didn't think it was ever going to happen. it's just so surreal," said Valenzuela.

Valenzuela is the first Indigenous woman from Canada to earn a medal in rugby 7's at the Olympics. She shows no signs of stopping now. 

"Although I am a silver medallist now, life has to go on," she said.

Valenzuela took a hiatus from higher education, but is now enrolled in Simon Fraser University to work toward her degree in criminal justice. 

"I have to continue working towards my other goals, whether it's playing varsity or I'm following my education," Valenzuela said.