Jillion Potter - The Indomitable Spirit

RUGBY - FLANKER (15s) & PROP (7s) - TEAM USA

ARCHETYPE: THE INDOMITABLE SPIRIT

Day 64/135

Athletic Accomplishments

Jillion Potter is widely regarded as the most ferocious, fearless, and fundamental flanker on Team USA’s rugby team. She has competed for the senior national team for 14 years, playing flanker in 15s and prop for 7s. I don’t know enough about rugby gameplay to tell you exactly what that means, except that she’s a badass, an enforcer, and the heartbeat of the team.

Potter played high school basketball and was a self-described “skateboard chick” growing up. In 2005, she arrived as a freshman at the University of New Mexico and tried out for the Lobos’ rugby team. Within just a few weeks, her coach was so impressed that Potter was flown to try out for the USA U19 team.

Because of her height, strength, and physical style of play, Potter made the U19 team and by 2007 was a full Eagle, competing for the senior national team. As part of the Eagles, Potter has competed in the 2013 Women’s Rugby Sevens World Cup, where the team won bronze, as well as the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup and 2016 Olympics. She competed in all of these world competitions after recovering from a broken neck and back, as well as Stage III cancer.

Character Archetype: The Indomitable Spirit

At 5’10”, 175 lbs. of pure aggression, you do NOT want to be on the receiving end of a Jillion Potter tackle.

Potter started playing rugby in college, and within 3 weeks, her coach flew her to a tryout with the USA U19 team. Imagine being that naturally gifted at something. Since that fateful day in 2005, Potter has been the enforcer of the USA Rugby Team and has continued playing and dominating for over a decade, playing at both Sevens and 15s.

But twice, Potter has had to overcome extraordinary odds to make it to the pitch. In 2010, she suffered an injury in which she fractured vertebrae, ruptured a disc, and tore ligaments. Impossibly, Potter recovered.

In 2014, Potter was diagnosed with Stage 3 Synovial Sarcoma cancer in her jaw, from which she recovered and made it back to full strength in time to make Team USA’s 2016 Olympic team.

Potter is unbreakable. And trust me, the Fates have tried. But her spirit and
strength are insurmountable. To bring her down, you’ll have to tackle much harder than that.