Injured rugby sevens star Sonny Bill Williams will return to New Zealand for surgery but not until the end of his team's Olympic campaign.
Williams has been ruled out of rugby for nine months, after he ruptured his Achilles tendon during New Zealand's shock loss to Japan this morning.
From his hospital bed, Williams told Checkpoint with John Campbell he did not want sympathy because his injury was "just a speed bump".
"My injury's secondary to the team, and the team trying to go all the way to that gold medal," he said. "I'm not leaving until that last game and hopefully the boys are playing for a gold medal in that game."
He was disappointed to be injured, he said.
Sonny Bill Williams is helped from the field after damaging his Achilles tendon during New Zealand's loss to Japan. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
"I really wanted to come into the Olympics... I moved into the backs, my preferred position, and everything was starting to click," he said.
"I was training really well, I felt a lot sharper, a little bit quicker, a little bit more powerful but at the end of the day... It's sad but I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me.
Down but never out, always praise to the most high for blessing me with so much! Let's go @nz7s we still in this ✊ pic.twitter.com/NtEpvTWfo1
— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) August 9, 2016
"I've had an amazing ride. I've been blessed beyond things that I could never have imagined," he said.
Williams had thanked his trainers for their work, and said he would do it all over again - even if he were to be injured again.
"To be part of something special, to be an Olympian and have the chance to win a medal - it's an amazing feeling," he said.
To get into the sevens team was a tough effort, he said.
"The general public don't really understand... how tough sevens is. So I'm really proud of the boys and I truly, honestly, believe the talent these guys have got. When they click, they can beat anyone," he said.
He said he would do anything he could to support the team - packing their bags, their lunch, or shouting from the sideline.
Williams said he would stay in Rio to support his team until their last game, and urged New Zealanders to get behind them.
New Zealand recovered from the loss to Japan with a win over Kenya, and will play Great Britain in their final pool game tomorrow.
