Olympics-Rio rugby a special lure for cancer survivor Potter

Rugby player Jillion Potter poses for a portrait with her dog Cody at the U.S. Olympic Committee Media Summit in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California March 8, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Having recovered from a broken neck and overcome a rare form of soft tissue cancer in the past six years, United States rugby player Jillion Potter has a new zest for life as she prepares for the Rio Olympics.

With the sport back on the Games programme for the first time since 1924, Potter is itching to experience the thrill of Olympic competition and hopes that rugby's exposure on such a big stage will help accelerate its growth in her homeland.