Kelsey Teneti Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Waikato rugby player Kelsey Teneti had tasted the success of rugby straight out of high school after being contracted with the Black Ferns Sevens in 2021.
However, since then it has been a tough ride of experiencing mental hardships and, "comparing my journey to others".
The Ngāti Porou and Te Whānau-ā-Apanui athlete said growing up in Gisborne, "doing sports was what every kid did back home".
Teneti's first love of sports began at the age of 5 years old as a hockey player up until high school.
"My mum did hockey, so she wanted to make sure I played that".
Simultaneously she also did waka ama for Horouta club in Gisborne.
"It was more of a hobby for me to do. It just so happened that I got good at it".
A hobby which ranked her world champion in the junior women's 16- and 19-team.
It was ex-Kiwi and Black Fern, Trish Hina that got Teneti interested in rugby after joining her rugby academy at a young age.
After completing her last two years at Hamilton Girls Highschool, the 20-year-old had caught the eyes of the Black Ferns Sevens.
"I had no idea that I was close to getting a contract."
That same year she also played in the Super Rugby Chiefs Manawa and Blues historic match.
Last year, Teneti debuted with the Black Ferns as an injury cover in the Pacific Four Series against the Wallaroos.
She then wore the black jersey for a second time later on in the year for the NZ Sevens in December.
Black Ferns Sevens Jorja Miller, Kelsey Teneti, Mania Nuku. Photo: Kelsey Teneti
"That was a special moment.
"You don't feel like you're in the team until you actually wear the black jersey on your back."
Teneti paid tribute to her nan who passed away three years ago, "to have her name on my back, that was the proudest moment I felt in my sporting career".
However, Teneti reflected on the difficulty of being thrown into the professional pool straight out of school.
"Coming into the professional environment at a young age was tough. I went from playing rugby in high school, club, FPC [Farah Palmer Cup], Super Rugby to nothing".
Living as an elite athlete daily, "you start getting into your head if I am good enough or not good enough".
"Not making the travelling team and sitting around for a whole year and training as hard I could. I felt at the time, I wasn't moving anywhere. I started to get frustrated that I was feeling this way."
She reached out to her family back home to let them know, "that I wasn't actually feeling to good".
"I had to keep reminding myself that it gets better and that it's okay".
Teneti got herself out of the rut by journaling, doing mindfulness and meditation but it was "mostly family and connecting back to my roots".
Māori roots which she draws on especially on the rugby field.
"I love being from Gisborne. I'm a hearty Ngāti girl you could say.
"We use a lot of Māori words on the field as well."
Next year her main goal is to make the Olympics team for the Black Ferns Sevens.
"It is a very big goal, but anything is possible".
Off the paddock, she also wanted to focus on achieving a career in youth work or the police.
In the meantime, the young superstar is focused on pre-season tournaments with the sevens team leading up to Paris qualifications.
"It's a big year for us next year, but I am excited."
