Black Ferns Sevens star Shiray Kaka has emotionally revealed her hopes of a second Olympics gold medal at Paris have been dashed by injury.
Kaka, 29, was carried off the field with a knee injury during the Singapore world series tournament last weekend and the veteran has posted on social media with the bad news of her prognosis.
"Thought it was time to let you guys know my Olympic dream is over," she wrote. "Apparently three surgeries wasn't enough... God thought I needed one more.
"Really thought it was finally my time to show the world what I could do. After all the trainings, all the setbacks, all the missed family events... the Olympics was going to make it all worth it, but it just wasn't to be."
Kaka has been part of the NZ women's team since 2013, helping them to Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020, but her career has been plagued by injury. She must now undergo her third anterior cruciate ligament surgery.
Married to former All Blacks Sevens star Gillies Kaka, Shiray was named best and fairest player at the Hong Kong Sevens last month.
In an Instagram video, she needs a few seconds to compose herself, as the reality of her announcement hits home.
"Thank you to everyone who sent their love, their prayers, their healing and everything to me... it didn't work," she blurted through her tears. "I did my ACL on the right leg this time and will not be part of the Olympic team.
"It is just not my time in the sevens jersey right now, which means somebody will get to step up and have the most amazing opportunity to play at an Olympic Games.
"Not going to dwell on it too long. Although I don't have an ACL, I still have a personality.
"No-one died, just my ACL died, but it will come back to life after surgery."
The Black Ferns Sevens lost captain Sarah Hirini to an ACL injury in December - she has missed the remainder of this year's world series - while reigning World Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year Tyla King was also stretchered off at Singapore with an ankle injury.
The NZ women still retained their world series crown and will now contest the series playoffs at Madrid next month.
