I did it! I claimed 2 soccer Guinness World Records titles at AT&T Stadium. I logged 60 “around the world” juggles in a minute and 200 “sole juggles” in a minute – both the most ever for a female.
Breaking these records was a lifetime in the making. Soon after I took my first steps, I took my first kicks. I’ve been chasing a soccer ball ever since. Growing up, every morning I was up before school, in the garage, developing my footwork and trying to improve my game.
Now I feel like the ball is an extension of me. The thump it makes when it hits my foot is music to my ears. Sometimes, it feels like it’s just me and the ball and everything else fades away.
I’ve loved soccer from early on, but it wasn’t until I was about 10 or 11 that I got to see one of the world’s greatest soccer freestylers in person. In that moment I knew my life was going to change forever. Freestyle soccer became my passion.
What is freestyle soccer, you ask? It’s a mix of sport and art. It’s a way for me to express myself with a soccer ball. It’s beautiful. And it’s challenging. Without teammates or a coach, you have to be driven and self-motivated to improve.
Freestyle soccer has taken me literally across the world – from starring in my high school talent show to performing in front of tens of thousands of fans in Manchester, U.K. and at a global freestyle competition in Rome. I’ve had the chance to meet many of my idols and role models and appear on national television – opportunities I never could have imagined. And it’s all thanks to one soccer ball and a whole lot of dedication and practice.
This week’s record-breaking experience was unbelievable. I’m so grateful for the support of sponsors like AT&T and my family and friends who helped me reach this milestone and believed in me even back when I was a little girl kicking the ball around our house!
I’ll be doing more fun things with my friends at AT&T in the months to come. Be sure to check in on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as they help bring my ideas to life.
My journey is far from over. I continue to practice every day and push myself to keep improving. But my ultimate goal is to entertain and inspire fans like you. As long as you’re watching, I’ll keep kicking!
