Relinquishing the captaincy of the All Blacks sevens team has helped DJ Forbes his Olympic dream, he says.
RNZI reports Forbes, 33, was yesterday named in Sir Gordon Tietjens' 12-man squad heading to Rio next month.
He gave up the captaincy last year in order to focus on making it to Rio and said, looking back, it was the right decision.
"This is definitely one of the proudest moments, you know being in an Olympic team. I guess I made some massive decisions earlier on to give myself the best chance to be here so definitely stoked that it all worked out."
Sonny Bill Williams also made the cut, but former All Black flanker Liam Messam is heading back to his Super Rugby side, the Chiefs, after missing out on a place in the Rio sevens squad.
Meanwhile, Sir Gordon remains coy over when he will hang up his coaching whistle.
He said after coaching the All Blacks sevens side for 22 years, the Olympics will be the highlight of his career.
He would not say, however, whether it will be his last tournament in charge.
"Whether it's my last tournament I don't know. Going to Rio, as I said, it's the pinnacle of my career. I've been to five Commonwealth Games and now going to an Olympic Games - unbelievable - the biggest sporting event in the world, so very proud to coach this All Black team."