Julie Foudy
Julie Foudy
Olympic Gold Medalist & two-time FIFA World Cup Champion
On top of her game...
Foudy is one of the most accomplished female soccer players in the world.
She is a two-time FIFA World Cup
champion and part of the Olympic gold medalist teams in 1999 and 2004.
Foudy was the captain of the U.S. Women's National Team
for 13 of her 18 years on the team. She finished her career with 45 goals, 59 assists and 271 international appearances.
In front of the cameras...
Foudy joined ESPN in 2005 and now provides personality-driven features for programs including SportsCenter
and Outside the Lines.
She is the lead game analyst for ESPN’s U.S. National Women’s Team and college soccer coverage.
Leading young women...
Foudy founded the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy
to offer girls a combination of soccer/lacrosse training and high energy leadership development. She wants to assist young athletes to become not just a leader on the field, but a leader in life.
Choosing to matter...
In her book, Choose to Matter, Foudy shares her definition of leadership and gives a little motivation to teens and women to embrace their personal style, have the confidence to raise their hand, and the courage to choose to lead.
"Lose the idea of perfect. Stop comparing yourself to other people and really just be courageously and fabulously you!"
Q & A
What challenges did you face along the way to earning a place on the U.S. Women’s National Team?
I was in high school at the time, so balancing sports and school, homework and social life was challenging. And the one thing I never wanted to give up was the social side! Playing soccer at a high level forced me to become more disciplined and efficient with my time. I acquired time management skills at a young age and that helped me later in life as well.
What is your most fond memory from the Olympic Games?
In 1996 my teammates and I were on an airplane heading over to Atlanta for the Olympic Games. When people on the plane learned we were the Women’s U.S. Olympic Soccer Team, the entire plane started singing the National Anthem! It was really cool.
What advice would you give to the next generation of girls?
I encourage girls to get involved in some type of sport or healthy activity. You learn so many life lessons by participating— team work, discipline,
time management. You don’t have to play at the highest level to gain valuable skills.
"Women often take on too much because they feel a sense of obligation or guilt. It's important to say no to some things and focus on the activities that bring joy to your life."
Julie's Book...
"I wrote this book to highlight some strategies for young women to get out of their comfort zone, have the courage to take risks, and most importantly, own up to their strengths and their awesome.
Everyone is different and that’s okay. Young women should embrace their style and lead in their own personal way."
