A Reluctant Hero Shines On & Off The Pitch With Qualities That We Can All Aspire to Emulate.
In 2020, Canada became home to the most prolific international soccer player in history. As impressive as this is, it is even more powerful to understand the person behind the athlete.
Every Sunday I publish an email on leadership and human performance called The Physical Movement. It is our mission to share positive, educational and inspirational information on how we can be better.
You can subscribe to be first in line every week here:
During this challenging time of the pandemic, taking the time to appreciate the positive can be very constructive for our young athletes.
Understanding the paths of those who have performed and succeeded at a high level can offset some of the discomfort of this interrupted year. Keeping our mind right is extremely important during a difficult time. On Super Bowl Sunday, let’s focus on the positive from the world of high performing athletes.
When we think of the qualities that sports participation can instill in our youth, we often look to those who have led by example. Humility, strong self-esteem and confidence, perseverance, work ethic, leadership, integrity, discipline, collaborating with others are just a few qualities that any parent would be proud to have in their young person.
There is only 1 person on earth who has scored 185 goals for their country in international soccer play and she is from Burnaby, British Columbia.
She has represented her country in international competition for 21 years and counting. She broke the international scoring in January 2020. She is the 14 time Canadian Player of the Year, is currently preparing to play in her 4th Olympic games coming up in Tokyo and was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2013.
Christine Sinclair will go down as one of the greatest athletes in Canadian history. She is referred to as the reluctant hero yet, as strong has she has been on the field, it may be Christine the person that is more impressive.
Here on the field accomplishments are remarkable.
In 2020, Sinclair's record-breaking year earned her the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as The Canadian Press female athlete of the year. It was her second time in winning this award and the only soccer player to ever win.
Details of her female athlete of the year award here.
LEADERSHIP
In a 2015 article her leadership skills were praised, documenting her taking on new roles on the pitch to make the team better (as opposed to focusing only on scoring goals).
Sinclair is revered by her teammates. Some have grown up alongside her, watching her turn into a soccer icon. Younger members of the squad still pinch themselves that they are on the same team as their idol.
"My childhood dream every single day," forward Jonelle Filigno said of lining up with Sinclair.
TPM Note: It is a tremendous moment in our country and society in observing Christine Sinclair’s accomplishments. Her excellence on the field could not have happened without scholarships being offered to women athletes, funding for developmental opportunities at the highest levels in Canada with the national program and a women’s professional soccer league that allowed her to continue to hone her skills at an elite level. These opportunities were not available to women that long ago, in any sport. Hundreds and thousands of young girls have an inspiration to support their development. This is what progress looks like.
FACING CHALLENGE
Christine has a family history of excelling in soccer, with 2 uncles having represented Canada in in men’s competition. Her family also has had its share of challenges as her mom has suffered from Multiple Sclerosis since she was very young.
In 2018, Christine published a post about the fiercest competitor she knew.
When you’re a kid, your parents are indestructible, and that’s what my mom was to me. Indestructible. But as years went by, I watched MS chip away at aspects of her life, and her fight against the chronic disease became tougher and tougher.
You see, my mom was an athlete, just like me. When I was growing up, she was my head coach for soccer, and as I progressed, she became the president of the club that my brother and I played at. She played all kinds of sports – soccer, track, baseball, water skiing, you name it – and coming from a family of athletes, it was routine for us to go to the park every week and play outside.
Although she lives in Vancouver and I’m in Portland, my mom’s journey with MS affects me every day. Just knowing what she’s constantly going through weighs heavy on my heart. But my mom always worked to not let her disease affect my life – career, or otherwise. She encouraged me to go away for university and always inspired me to follow my dreams of becoming a professional soccer player.
In the past few years, my priorities have shifted. Soccer is still my passion, but family has become ever so important to me. Whenever I have a couple of days off, I drive from Portland, Oregon to B.C. to spend time with my family. If you ask me, the time couldn’t be better spent.
Anyone who has experienced a loved one’s suffering can vouch how it can change us. Often it removes any sense of entitlement (if there was) and taking anything for granted. Understanding the determination and discipline it takes to perform at the highest level for many years (she first joined the national program at 16 years old, and is currently still competing at 37), we can conclude this experience shaped who she is as a person and competitor.
The full post on her mom is here.
About MS:
MS is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord). The disease attacks myelin — the protective covering of the nerves, causing inflammation and often damaging the myelin, which is necessary for the transmission of nerve impulses through nerve fibres.
The effects are wide-ranging and unpredictable: extreme fatigue, lack of co-ordination, weakness, tingling, impaired sensation, vision problems, bladder problems, cognitive impairment and mood changes.
The cause remains a mystery — the belief is lifestyle, environmental, genetic and biological factors all contribute.
Currently there is no cure.
According to the MS Society, Canada has the highest rate of multiple sclerosis in the world, with an estimated one in 340 Canadians living with the disease.
CHARITABLE WORK & GIVING BACK
In 2017, Christine stepped into the public eye in supports of MS. Public anything is not comfortable for her.
"For me it was the first time sort of stepping out of my comfort zone in terms of MS and the impact it's had on my family," she said in an interview. "Having done that, I realized that it was something I wanted to be a part of and I felt like I could help make a difference."
More on her work in support of fighting MS.
Christine’s is a role model for younger athletes and she takes that very seriously. It was recently documented that she has gone out of her way to support the development and opportunities for young girls during the pandemic. In the fall of 2020, she contributed her time for the ShowUpforGirls campaign put on by the Canadian Women’s Foundation.
"I'm a firm believer in fighting for youth and girls, specifically," said Sinclair. "This just made sense to me that in the midst of a global pandemic, girls are probably being impacted greatly.
"To help raise awareness to that and help raise some money to keep programs alive and well that support girls, it's very important to me."
More about Christine’s work with ShowUpForGirls campaign.
We are all better for knowing the story of Christine Sinclair. Let’s hope that when the Tokyo Olympics do occur, Canadian Women’s soccer can take another step forward with a gold medal. That would be the crowning achievement for one of the great people and player’s in the game.
PLAY. LEAD. BE.
Additional information about the great Christine Sinclair.
