Megan Rapinoe was in the headline during Women's Football World Cup 2019 in France not just for her dominant play on the field, but her outspoken nature and colourful personality off the field made her in the limelight.
Raised in a conservative part of North California, Megan was born on July 5 1985. She is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger and captain of OL Reign in the National team. She was pushed by her brother, Brian, to play sports at the age of 4. And her mother Janice, allowed her to play soccer with her twin sister Rachel. Later she earned a degree in sociology from the University of Portland.
As a freshman in 2005, Megan led the soccer team of the University of Portland in an undefeated season. Following in 2009, she was drafted to the Chicago Red Stars. In 2011 she made her debut for the US women's national soccer team at 2011 Fifa women's world cup. At 27, Rapinoe helped her country to clinch the gold medal in London Olympic games. And again in 2015, the US women's team grabbed another gold medal at Fifa women's world cup.
Apart from being a terrific football player, Megan loves to engage herself in several social movements. In 2016, she joined Colin Kaepernick's protest against racial injustice in sports by taking a knee during the national anthem. She continued her protests by not participating in the national anthem even in 2019 Fifa women's world cup. To make sporting spaces safe for LGBT youth, Megan partnered with ''Play Proud'' in 2018 and raised her voice on the issue. At the age of 33, Rapinoe became the part of a gender discrimination lawsuit against US soccer over lack of investment in Women sports.
Off the field, Rapinoe is a fierce advocate for social issues. Megan Rapinoe has helped her country to win the Fifa Women's world cup twice. Not only this, she is the first openly gay couple with her partner Sue Bird on the cover of ESPN's body issue. She also has one Ballon Dór to her name.
Despite having so many obstacles in her life, Megan Rapinoe fought hard and became one of the best footballers in the world. Her success story is the real motivational story for all of us.
