At just 21 Caitlin Foord has achieved much more than any footballer could ever dream of.
FOOTBALL: At just 21 Caitlin Foord has achieved much more than any footballer could ever dream of.
She made history in 2010 when she became the youngest Australian to ever play in a World Cup at only 16-years-old before again playing a key role in the nation’s historic 2015 campaign.
The young gun from Coffs Harbour lined up for Australia as they finished runners up in the 2015 Asian Cup and has also played in two of the world’s strongest domestic leagues at home in Australia and in the US.
There is one item still to tick off the list though – the Olympic Games.
Foord was crucial to Australia’s undefeated qualification run that put the world on notice that the Australian Team was not only back in the Olympic Games but they were ready to win the nation’s first Olympic medal in the sport.
“Qualifying for Rio was like nothing I’ve never felt before,” said the diminutive defender.
“The buzz in the change rooms and the excitement around the girls was amazing as we were all striving to make the Olympics and to finally achieve it was brilliant. That feeling when we knew we had qualified will stay with me and I’m sure the other girls forever.”
After the well-deserved celebrations for Rio qualification died down attention soon turned to achieving the side’s next goal.
“The first target was to qualify and now the next goal is to not just to go and enjoy it but to go and win the gold medal, and if not gold then definitely a medal.”
Foord was injured heading into the qualifications but as she got more game time she felt more at home playing against some of the world’s best.
“Going into Japan I wasn’t at full fitness but when I got out there and each game I felt I got better and better. I’m feeling great now so I’m just going to try and maintain leading all the way in.
“Any kid playing sport the highest point you can go is the Olympics so no matter what sport you do it’s the dream of any kid and it was definitely a dream of mine from a young age.”
Foord has been in Canberra with a host of the domestically based Rio hopefuls as they look to build towards the greatest sporting event on the planet.
“It’s been a bit of a smaller group than what we are used to but it’s still be high intensity and everything has been looking good.
“There are a few girls in the US and Germany that will not make the camps but they’ll be back for the international matches we play in the lead up to Rio. The camps are helping us make sure we stay at full fitness and get us some game time.”
With the depth in women’s football in Australia continuing to strengthen it will no doubt be a difficult task for head coach Alen Stajcic to select his final team.
“There is a group of 30 girls that are in the squad and only 16 will get to go to Rio so it definitely is competitive to make the team.
“It will be obviously be who is in the best form at the time will get which makes it pretty nerve racking but also exciting for all of us.”
While they are all fighting for spots on the same team and for the chance to become an Olympian the side appears closer than they ever have been before.
“The big thing is the belief we have in each other. We are a close knit family and to know that the person next to you is going to be working just as hard for you as you are for them.
“We definitely think we can beat any country on any given day.”
It is that comradery that will hopefully carry the side into the final stages of the Rio competition where they can vie for a historic medal.
To get there the Aussies will have to navigate there group that features powerhouse Germany, Canada and Zimbabwe.
They will play their first match against Canada in Sao Paolo on August 3, before taking on Germany, again in Sao Paolo, on August 6 before concluding the group stage against Zimbabwe on August 9 in Salvador.
Matt Bartolo
olympics.com.au