Abi Burton makes Olympic comeback as Amy Wilson Hardy withdrawn

Abi Burton made her return to the Olympic Games as Great Britain lost to China, just two years after she was put into an induced coma after being diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis.

Burton, who played four matches as Great Britain finished fourth at Tokyo 2020, was hospitalised having suffered a number of seizures in the year following those Games.

The 24-year-old contracted pneumonia twice while in the coma and was unable to walk and talk when she first came out of it.

However, Burton recovered to make her Great Britain return at HSBC SVNS Perth in January and started the ninth-place semi-final against China at Stade de France on Tuesday. She wasn’t able to help her side to victory, though, as they conceded a late try to lose 19-15.

Burton had been drafted back into the squad on Tuesday after Amy Wilson Hardy was withdrawn on medical grounds.

Hardy had been an ever-present for Great Britain at Paris 2024, however, she became the subject of a British Olympic Association (BOA) investigation on Monday after an alleged racist comment made in a WhatsApp conversation was leaked online.

A BOA spokesperson said: “The British Olympic Association has confirmed that Amy Wilson Hardy has been withdrawn on medical grounds from the Paris 2024 rugby sevens placement matches and will be replaced by Tokyo 2020 Olympian Abi Burton.

“As confirmed last night, the BOA continues to investigate this matter.”