Baker prepares to step onto the big stage

Kilcloon rugby player Sarah Baker steps onto the big stage on Sunday when she will be part of the Irish Rugby Sevens team that goes in search of glory at the Paris Olympics.

The Girls in Green will kick start their search for Olympic gold when they take on Great Britain in their Pool B game on Sunday, 2.30pm Irish time.

They will follow that up that eveninig, 7pm Irish time with a clash against South Africa.

On Monday the Irish then face Australia at 1.30pm. If they do well in those games they will progress further.

Baker grew up in Kilcloon I went to school in the Kilcloon national school. She has two sisters in her family.

"With three girls I don't think my father expected such a rugby-mad family," she says.

"I grew up playing many sports including hockey, athletics, horse riding, swimming, tennis and I started rugby in my last year of school in King's Hospital.

"My family is all very sporty. And my parents constantly argue over who's side of the family I get my sporting abilities from!"

Baker made her rugby sevens debut for Ireland in Japan in 2018.

In a game where pace is paramount, Baker found she excelled. She kept her place on the team and is now about to step onto the big stage in Paris.

"The highlight of my career has been qualifying for the Olympics as a team with all our families there to watch it was a very special moment.

"I am a qualified personal trainer but haven't started working in the field."

Getting to the Olympic Games was a fulfilment of an ambition Baker set herself when she was just a youngster.

"I told my dad when I was younger that I was going to go to the Olympics, he asked me in what sport and I said I didn't know yet.

"I did my ACL this year in same leg for the second time in Dubai leaving me seven months to make it back to play in the Olympics, so getting selected was a massive goal of mine that I didn't know was going to be possible.

"Now that I have been selected I am extremely proud and honoured to be in a position to represent my country in the Olympics."