Two-time Olympic gold medallist and all-time World Series try scorer

Overview

Michaela Brake (nee Blyde) is one of the most prolific try scorers in women's rugby history — a two-time Olympic gold medallist (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024), back-to-back World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year (2017 and 2018), Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Rugby World Cup Sevens winner and the all-time leading try scorer in the women's HSBC SVNS Series with 250+ tries. In 2025 she became one of NZ's most high-profile dual-code athletes, signing with the NZ Warriors in the NRLW.

Who is Michaela Brake? Born in New Plymouth on 29 December 1995 and raised on a Taranaki dairy farm, Michaela followed her mother Cherry (a 1992 Black Fern and Taranaki Rugby leader) into the sport via a 2012 "Go for Gold" sevens trial. She debuted internationally aged 18 in 2014 after being a travelling reserve at the Rio Games, became World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year in 2017 and again in 2018, and has since helped the Black Ferns Sevens to six World Series titles and back-to-back Olympic golds. She married Olympic gold medallist rower Michael Brake in January 2025.

Career Highlights • Olympic gold medals at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 • World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year 2017 and 2018 (back-to-back) • 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens and 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist • All-time leading try scorer, HSBC SVNS women's series (250+ tries) • Six World Series titles with the Black Ferns Sevens • 2025 NZ Warriors NRLW signing — high-profile code switch

Key Speaking Themes • Goal setting, visualisation and turning a "ridiculous dream" into reality • Elite performance and consistency at the top of world sport • Code switching, reinvention and pushing into new challenges • Team culture and women in sport • Identity, family and roots — small-town to Olympic gold

What Your Audience Will Gain Michaela is fast, focused and refreshingly down-to-earth. Audiences leave inspired by her career, with concrete insight on goal setting and visualisation — and a clear reminder that the people closest to you are at the centre of every big achievement.

Ideal For • Women in business and women in sport events • Sales kick-offs and corporate offsites • School and youth leadership programmes • Awards nights and gala dinners • Sport, performance and culture forums

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does Michaela Brake speak about? Goal setting, visualisation, elite performance, team culture, reinvention and pursuing big dreams.

What Olympic medals has Michaela Brake won? Two Olympic gold medals — Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 — with the Black Ferns Sevens.

Is Michaela Brake the same person as Michaela Blyde? Yes. Michaela married fellow Olympic gold medallist Michael Brake in January 2025 and now plays under the name Brake.

How many tries has Michaela Brake scored in the World Series? More than 250 in the HSBC SVNS women's series — the all-time leading try scorer in the competition's history.

What does Michaela Brake do alongside sevens? She is currently playing in the NRLW for the NZ Warriors and plans to return to the Black Ferns Sevens in 2026.

Is Michaela Brake available for keynotes and panels? Yes. Michaela is in demand for corporate, school and women in sport audiences across NZ.