Rugby Sevens star Emilee Cherry inducted into Queensland Sport Hall of Fame

There are no stronger words to describe the supreme efforts of a sportswoman than ‘best’ and ‘first’, and both apply perfectly to new Queensland Sport Hall of Fame inductee, Emilee Cherry.

Born in Roma, Cherry was judged World Sevens Player of the Year in 2014, the first Australian to be rated the world’s best, and was a key member of the Australian team that won the very first Olympic gold medal in Women’s Sevens in Rio in 2016. 

During her career, Cherry was a dual international, also representing Australia in Touch Rugby League, and was a trailblazer as both sports made their mark on the world stage. 

“What an incredible surprise it was when I received the phone call to let me know I was going to be inducted into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame,” said Cherry.

“I’m an extremely proud Queenslander and I’m incredibly humbled to be named alongside so many sporting legends in the Hall of Fame.

“In particular, I’d like to make a special mention to fellow 2024 inductee, Darren Thrupp. As a child in Roma, I grew up idolising his incredible feats while also trying to outsprint him at our local Little Athletics club.

“He showed me that a kid from the bush could dominate on the world stage, and seeing him dominate at the Paralympics one week, and the next be down at the local oval training us, made me feel like the absolute impossible, was so close.”

Having debuted for Australia in Rugby Sevens in 2012, she scored most tries and most points during the 2013-14 World Series – 33 tries and 195 points – to be the first Australian anointed the world’s best … at age 21. 

Described by her long-time coach Tim Walsh as "one in a million”, she once scored a hat-trick of tries in 181 seconds and collected 131 tries all up in World Series play.  

“Rugby Sevens was a path that I really didn’t see coming,” said Cherry.

“I fell in love with the exhilarating sport, and I’ve been involved as a full-time professional player, then coach, for the last 12 years.

“I feel so privileged that I’ve been able to be part of the changing landscape of women’s sport. I grew up in a time where I saw my only options for idols being male footy players, and now I have two daughters who sometimes think it’s odd that the men get to play footy too.

Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2017, she also won a Commonwealth Games silver medal on the Gold Coast in 2018, and was bound for the 2020 Olympics until they were delayed by Covid. 

“I’d really like to thank my mum, who would drive me eight hours return most weekends from Roma to Brisbane for various sports. 

“I thank her for making me feel worthy of everything, and that win or lose, hard work is rewarding and that above all, to enjoy myself,” she said.