The Australian women’s sevens team will head to the Olympics on top of the world after beating France 26-7 in the grand final of this year’s global series.

A tight first half ended 7-7 at Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on Sunday (Monday AEST), but after the break it became another Maddison Levi show with the Australian star grabbing a hat-trick of tries.

Levi brushed off two defenders for the first, finished off the second in the other corner, and face-palmed a defender to score her third.

She scored 13 of Australia’s 21 tries in Madrid over the weekend, including three hat-tricks in five games. Her 69 tries this season was 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 [other] girls,” Levi said.

Arguably her biggest moment came 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. Tia Hinds kicked the conversion from the touchline.

New Zealand had won the past four tournaments. Their battles with Australia finished 3-3 this season. The teams also share the event’s two Olympic gold medals and will be the favourites again in Paris.

Australia captain Charlotte Caslick noted the semi-final win’s importance after the decider.