Bryan Habana: It doesn’t get any better than winning an Olympic gold medal

As a Rugby World Cup winner in 2007, Bryan Habana speaks to CNN‘s Alex Thomas about the importance of the sport to South Africa.

While preparations for the Rio Olympics continue, the winger reveals the appeal for union players who are now returning sevens, and opens up on the challenges he has faced, having not competed in rugby sevens for 12 years.

“The opportunity you go up there to represent your country at any point is always a massive privilege,” the Toulon star said. “Being able to so at an Olympics event, where being able to get a gold medal is probably the biggest achievement any athlete can do.”

But Habana went on to highlight the importance of winning Olympic medals in a wider context, and what benefits that can bring a country like South Africa.

“It will be immensely important, not only to these players but to our country, now we’ve seen in the past, gold medal athletes coming home from the Olympics and by doing the country so proud, it brings the nation that so badly needs it at the moment.”

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