You only have to hear Ellia Green speak about the most important person in her life to know what has driven the Australian speedster to become one of the world’s best rugby sevens players.

Green’s mother Yolanta has twice been diagnosed with cancer, battles her daughter always reminds herself of when she runs on the field representing Australia.

Before every match she plays in the women’s sevens world series, Green writes the word “mum” on her wrist, serving as motivation for any challenge she may face out on the field.

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It is an inspiring ritual she will continue at the Rio Olympics, where the Australian women are gold medal favourites.

“You have to be mentally strong,” Green said in Rio on Tuesday (AEST).

“So whenever I’m feeling like my legs are burning I just look down at my wrist and remind myself my mum is a fighter and so I am going to fight for her as well.”

The Greens have supported each other every step of the way towards Rio, but rugby sevens was not the sport they thought would one day draw them to the Olympics.

The Fiji-born Green was a talented sprinter in track and field as a junior and only took to rugby sevens four years ago, almost by mistake.

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She had driven her cousin to an Australian Rugby Union talent identification camp in Melbourne in 2012, only to take part herself before a year later making her national sevens debut in Houston on the world series circuit.

The 23-year-old is now firmly entrenched in the women’s sevens program and her importance to the Australian team was on display when she touched down for 17 tries during its recent 2015-16 world series triumph.

Green is realising a childhood ambition by making her Olympic debut in Rio, although it was track and field in which she thought she would be competing.

“That was always a dream of mine (to make the Olympics) since I was five years old,” she said.

“I had a lot of posters of Olympian sprinters like Carmelita Jeter, Usain Bolt up in my room so it was something that I was going to hopefully one day achieve.

“So to be here for rugby sevens is very unexpected but also a dream come true.”

Ellia Green (left) used to be a track and field athlete. Photo: AAP

Hip-hop a hidden talent

Green is set to become one of the more popular members of Australia’s Rio contingent in the Games village, and not just because of her friendly personality.

She is fast developing a reputation for rapping, so much so that even international journalists in Rio have not been shy in making requests.

“If I’m asked to rap, I’ll never say no,” Green said with a smile.

Green and her Australian teammates will face Colombia in their opening pool match on Sunday (AEST).

-ABC