'It's been a whirlwind': Jen Kish celebrates historic bronze medal win

In the moments that followed her rugby team's bronze medal win in Rio, Jen Kish felt like a superhero.

And the 28-year-old captain of Canada's women's rugby sevens team says that feeling of euphoria hasn't faded.

"It's been a whirlwind," the Edmonton native said Tuesday.

"I never imagined in my whole life that I would be here. To have a dream come true is the ultimate feeling. I can't even put it into words.

"I'm kind of in a fog right now. Didn't sleep much because I was just trying to replay it. Did this just happen? Is it real life?" 

The Canadian women's rugby sevens team beat Great Britain 33-10 Monday to capture the bronze medal. In the gold-medal match, Australia beat New Zealand 24-17.

"I think it won't actually hit me until I get back on Canadian soil," Kish said.

"I know that we've inspired many more people in our nation to fall in love with the sport and I'm sure when I get back to Edmonton, people will recognize what me and my team did and congratulate me, and that's when it will hit me. "

With the win in the bronze medal match, the Canadians avenged a 22-0 loss to Britain in their final preliminary round game. Canada had dropped a 17-5 semifinal decision to Australia early Monday.

"We came here for a gold medal and when we lost that dream was over, but we just created a new dream and that was getting the bronze," Kish said.

"We wanted to put in a great team performance and show our nation what we're capable of when we play like a team, and we ended the tournament as win and with a bronze medal, and I couldn't be more proud of the girls." 

With her teammates erupting into laughter, and cries of joy, a grinning Kish burst into tears as the final buzzer rang out over the field at Deodoro Stadium.

Overcome, she ran to the stands, and climbed over the railings to share a hug with her father.

Apparently her tears were contagious.

"I've never seen him cry before. He was just so proud," Kish said.

"It was a great father-daughter moment, to have him there sharing the dream with me."

Steve Kish, who worked two jobs to support Kish and her older brother Jason growing up, has been battling cancer. 

Without him, Kish said her Olympic dream never would have come true, and she decided long ago to dedicate her medal win to him.

"It was a great moment and an emotional one for the both of us. He's given up so much so I can go for my dreams and pursue my career, and winning the bronze medal and sharing that with him was my gift back to him."

Kish said her dreams of Olympic were glory were born in 1998, as she watched the Canadian women's hockey team capture silver in the  Nagano Winter Olympics, the first Games to feature the women's event.

"When they won, I was crying. I saw the pride they had for their sport, and I turned to my dad and I said 'I want to be there,' and he said 'okay, well go get it' and that's what put the drive in me."

"And for me, being a role model is a huge honour and opportunity. Because if you can convince one kid to chase their dream, they can be where I am five to 10 years from now.

"It's just great."