It was, quite simply, the Maddison Levi show. France had kept level with Australia until half-time of the World Sevens Series final in Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium but then Levi took over.

By the time she had finished, Australia were celebrating gold medals after running out 26-7 winners amid brightening optimism for the forthcoming Olympic Games.

Australia cut out the errors and took control of the second half. Levi brushed off two defenders for the go-ahead try, finished off the second in the other corner, and face-palmed a defender to score her third.

Levi scored 13 of Australia’s 21 tries in Madrid, including three hat-tricks in five games. Her 69 tries in the season were the second best total in series history, among men and women, after Vilimoni Delasau’s 83 for Fiji in the inaugural 1999-2000 season.

“I wouldn’t be able to do it without the girls inside me,” Levi said.

Arguably her biggest moment was in the semi-final against New Zealand. The clock was in red, Australia trailed 19-14, and Levi regained the restart and ended up scoring the tying try. Then Tia Hinds kicked the conversion from the touchline.

New Zealand had won the last four tournaments. The battles with Australia finished 3-3 this season. The teams also share the only two Olympic gold medals and will be the favorites again in Paris.

Australia captain Charlotte Carlick noted its importance after the final. “Great to get a win over the Kiwis this morning, we have a ding-dong battle with them,” she said.

“Just got confidence out of that and belief in ourselves which is really important moving into the Paris Games.”

The men’s title was taken by France, who outmuscled Argentina 19-5 for their first World Series title.