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Spotlight on Megan Rapinoe: Passion, talent, guts

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HANDSFUL Megan Rapinoe, co-captain of Team USA.  Picture: Marc Atkins / Getty Images
HANDSFUL Megan Rapinoe, co-captain of Team USA. Picture: Marc Atkins / Getty Images

She was told by US President Donald Trump to “win first before she talks”, but the outspoken Megan Rapinoe was already done “talking” before the Women’s World Cup even began.

During the tournament, she strongly reiterated her initial stance – of not going to the White House if Team USA won – and quickly backed it up with two crucial quarterfinal goals against France.

In the end, she served up a hot sauce mic drop moment by cuddling three gold trophies while a gold medal hung around her neck as she posed for a memorable photo with a huge grin on her face.

Message of exclusion

In a recent exclusive interview with CNN, she said to the US president: “Your message is excluding people, you are excluding me, you are excluding people of colour, you are excluding Americans who, maybe, support you.

"I think we need to have a reckoning with the message that you have and what you are saying about making America great again.

“I think that you are harking back to an era that was not great for everyone. It might have been great for a few people – maybe America is great for a few people right now – but it’s not great for enough Americans.”

The fearless co-captain scored the second-half penalty that set the USA on the path to glory as they defeated the Netherlands 2-0 to clinch a fourth world title at a sold-out Stade de Lyon on Sunday. She won the player of the match, the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball awards.

One bold statement at a time, on and off the pitch, starting with her pinkish-purple hair, Rapinoe, who has described herself as a “walking protest”, owned the World Cup stage in a manner only she could.

Staying true to her word, she did not sing the national anthem – in support of American football quarterback Colin Kaepernick and rebelling against Trump.

She also had her hands full as an advocate for social equality by promoting her lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender allegiance during Pride month, and slamming Fifa for only now supporting women’s football.

Rapinoe met every question directed at her with an articulate answer and she became the first player in the tournament’s history to score two or more goals in successive knockout stage games.

Her two goals apiece against Spain and France lifted the US into their eighth Women’s World Cup semifinal and her six goals in five games made her the highest goal-scorer.

GOAL Megan Rapinoe of USA takes a penalty kick that she scored in her team’s 2-0 2019 Fifa Women's World Cup final victory over the Netherlands at Stade de Lyon Sunday. Picture: Marc Atkins / Getty Images

Her iconic open-arm celebration stance captured many hearts and became a meme on social media.

Team USA coach Jill Ellis said: “I think Megan was built for this – built for these moments, built to be a spokesperson for others. I have sat in press conferences with her. She’s just incredibly eloquent; speaks well, speaks from her heart.”

Ellis, who thinks women’s football needs such honest people, added: “The bigger the spotlight, the more she shines. I think spotlights can burn people, but, for Megan, it just highlights who she is.”

With 158 caps, Rapinoe has always been there, and her exceptional skills have always been apparent.

One of her earliest coaches, Danny Cruz, said: “Megan was creative, crafty and doing stuff you just didn’t see 16-year-olds doing.”

She and her twin sister Rachael were taught to play football by their brother Brian, whom she gave an affectionate birthday shout-out to on national TV after winning the title.

“Just one thing: Happy birthday, Brian. I love you so much,” she said, blowing him a kiss.

The midfielder has just turned 34 and she shares a special bond with her brother, who could not be in France because he is undergoing a rehabilitative programme in the final 12 months of his prison sentence.

Her journey through the ranks of America’s women’s national team began at age 15. She made her senior team debut on July 23 2006, but had to wait for five years before featuring in her maiden major international tournament after missing out on the 2007 Women’s World Cup and the Beijing Olympics in 2008 due to injuries. Rapinoe then performed a dramatic celebration for her first World Cup goal (against Colombia) in 2011 by running to the corner flag, grabbing an on-field mic and singing Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA.

The California native came out as gay before appearing in her first Olympics in 2012. She and her Women’s National Basketball Association partner Sue Bird, who have been together since 2016, were the first same-sex couple to be featured in ESPN’s Body Issue.

Go gays!

And one of her famous quotes from this year’s World Cup is: “Go gays! You can’t win a championship without gays on your team – it’s never been done before, ever. That’s science, right there!”

Rapinoe has always been there, and everything she’s stood for came together on one stage in France at a time when women’s football is more popular and visible due to record-breaking viewing figures and social media interactions.

Her friend and team-mate Ali Krieger has tipped her to win the Ballon d’Or.

“I hope Megan gets it,” Krieger told Live Soccer TV. “Not only because she is one of my closest friends, but because she deserves it. She proved herself at this tournament and she proves herself everyday. She is unmatched. She deserves the Ballon d’Or."

. This article appeared in the AIPS Newsletter

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