A serious neck injury put paid to the second half of 2014 for McAlister, and she only just missed the cut for the New Zealand team to Dubai last month. But she has made her comeback to competitive sevens a special one.
"I thought I would be right for Dubai but I was told a week out that I wouldn't be travelling, so that was pretty hard. I used that as motivation and trained harder in December. I've trained pretty much the whole year. I haven't really had an off-season."
In a fortnight, the New Zealand side play in Sao Paulo, and will then have a chance to head across to Rio to check out the Olympic city.
"It's still quite surreal. At New Year's, I realised that the Olympics were next year and it's daunting. I've grown in the last two and half years, along with team and management, so it's been a pretty cool ride. Looking at footage from a couple of years ago, I think the skillsets of other nations are improving and the resources are growing," said McAlister, who juggles her intense training schedule with part-time early childhood studies.
Should McAlister ever slacken off at training, she has her fiance to push her - Blues and former All Blacks Sevens rep Pita Ahki.
"He's helped me the last eight months, putting up with me whingeing at home. They have a brutal programme with the Blues. I've tried to run alongside him, but my times aren't as good as his," she said.
New Zealand coach Sean Horan had no hesitation in handing McAlister another contract.
"She was in scintillating form at the national sevens last weekend. She was a clear standout, which is why she was named the player of the tournament. And while she was scoring all those tries, she's not yet up to our match fitness, so it's exciting to think she still has so much room to improve."
Features of the squad are the selections of Black Ferns Kelly Brazier, Selica Winiata, Carl Hohepa and Honey Hireme, the latter returning to the sevens ranks, while there are first-time contracts for Charlotte Scanlan, Morgan Morrow and Katarina Whata-Simpkins.
"The game is definitely progressing, it really excites me how far things have gone. There seems to be a real competitive edge out there, and girls are working hard to compete for these precious contracts," said Horan.
"It's also clear that some provinces are really starting to see the potential of sevens, and we're seeing athletes coming through, particularly from rural areas, with good skillsets and professional standards keep improving.
"We've stuck with the tried and true and we've rewarded players who have clearly worked hard. We are very lucky in that these contracts allow the players to focus on their training."
The New Zealand squad, minus Huriana Manuel, who is injured, will train next week in Mt Maunganui before the 12 for Sao Paulo are named.
Contracted players
Michaela Blyde, Gayle Broughton (Taranaki), Kelly Brazier, Morgan Morrow, Alexis Tapsell, (Bay of Plenty), Sarah Goss (c), Selica Winiata (Manawatu), Honey Hireme, Carla Hohepa, Shiray Tane, Jordon Webber (Waikato), Hazel Tubic (Counties Manukau), Ruby Tui (Canterbury), Katarina Whata-Simpkins (Wellington), Huriana Manuel, Kayla McAlister, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Charlotte Scanlan, Portia Woodman (Auckland).
