Sharni Smale could still manage a tearful smile despite her rugby sevens sign off not going to plan.
Two mighty upsets and fourth place at the Paris Games was hardly the script written for Australia's world champion rugby sevens women.
But the 36-year-old triple-Olympian, who has now retired from the program, still called it a "fairytale" farewell in front of a record crowd for women's rugby that pushed 70,000.
"I walk away a three-time Olympian, emotional, a gold medallist, played the game with heart, authentic, represent my people and did it on the world stage," she told AAP after her side's shock losses to Canada and USA on finals day.
"I wouldn't have wanted to end it anywhere else and that's the beauty of rugby sevens, you can do it at the pinnacle of sport."
A proud member of the LGBT+ community, Smale has worn rainbow headgear since the International Olympic Committee ticked it off for the Tokyo Games.
"The Olympics is the pinnacle, but it doesn't define you as a human," she said.
"I'll be able to sit back and really reflect after this and realise the role model I am, not just in Australia but the world.
"You get messages here and there but you don't really let yourself know the impact until you look back in the rear-view mirror and go 'geez, look at what I've done and what the game's allowed me to do'."
Coach Tim Walsh described her as "a national treasure" who had left a huge mark on women's sport while long-time teammate Charlotte Caslick said "god we'll miss her".
The bedrock of Australia's trailblazing rugby sevens program, Smale almost conjured a consolation bronze for the side in her last act for the side.
Brought on at 7-7 with 107 seconds to go against the United States, her push in the scrum won a penalty against the feed.
The Levi sisters, Teagan and Maddison, then combined to score what they thought was the match-winning try.
Instead American Alex Sedrick then shrugged a tackle and ran the length of the field, converting her own try in a 14-12 win that consigned Australia's world champions to fourth.
"I really thought we had it there, in the dying seconds," Smale said.
"You can't switch off ... we were the hunted, we know teams are stacking up against us and it gets harder and harder and you can't just expect to be scoring tries, you have to work for them."
Smale isn't done though, set for an immediate move into the Wallaroos' program next month to give that semi-professional set-up some oomph.
"That's what these girls deserve," she said.
"To experience this sort of thing ... it started as a little dream as an eight-year-old and look how far it's gone.
"I'm only one person, but I've got a pretty big heart for a lot of people and can spread that love around."
