TOKYO, 01 AUGUST 2021 (OIS) --- The Black Ferns swept all before them to banish the ghosts of Rio 2016, where they lost the final to Australia.

Saturday's showpiece, capped with a celebratory haka after beating France, ensured New Zealand added Olympic gold to their World Cup, World Sevens Series and Commonwealth Games titles.

"Yeah, we've got titles and we've won things, but I want our group to be good people and show the world that you can be a good, genuine person and still have success," Hirni said. "Our programme allowed that. Things like this happen because you’re able to be who you are."

Fellow co-captain Portia Woodman felt "numbness", followed by "pure elation" at the full-time whistle. It was a tonic sweet enough to salve the anguish of Rio, where she was pictured weeping on the field.

"Crying underneath the posts was one that I looked back on, but now it’s gone," Woodman said. "Not when I look at this (gestures to the gold medal).

France were well beaten, but the silver medal is their first in Olympic sevens.

Paris hosts the next Games in 2024 and captain Fanny Horta says this campaign gives her side a fine platform on which to build.

“I am sure with this medal, the desire for revenge will be great," Horta said. “It has been a beautiful story and hopefully it continues. I hope this gives young girls the desire to start playing rugby and to get to the Olympics. Maybe next time we can win the final.”

Fiji was, perhaps the greatest story of the event, came within inches of toppling New Zealand in a semi-final decided in extra-time.

Their historic bronze medal - the first of any kind for female Fijian athletes after their male counterparts won back-to-back golds - is all the more remarkable given the constraints they faced.

Coach Saiasi Fuli revealed his players had not been able to see their families for 16 weeks owing to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, and said that some of his squad had only taken up the game within the past 12 months.

“Some of them tried to break camp and run home," Fuli said.

"We had to get them back and keep them in camp and just remind them that the journey will be quite a long one until we reach Tokyo.

“For three or four of the players, it is their first time flying out of Fiji. Some just learned rugby a year ago. They had no idea what rugby was. So 60-70% of our effort was just concentrating on core skills, how to catch, pass, tackle technique.

“We identified them from athletics, some just playing touch rugby in their village.”

Great Britain were edged by the Pacific Islanders in the bronze-medal match. Earlier on Saturday, deposed champions Australia wrapped up fifth place, with impressive China beating Russia to seventh place.