Canada’s Leon shares emotional photographic journey
Adriana Leon returns to her childhood, passion for ice hockey and the moment she brought Olympic gold home to her beloved Nana.
Canada star has been sharing her 'story in three photos'
Joyful childhood memories and experiences on the ice feature
A tearful Leon also looks back on bringing home her Olympic gold
Adriana Leon has been making her mark at this FIFA Women’s World Cup™ as Canada’s match-winning heroine in their hard-fought comeback win over Republic of Ireland.
The Manchester United forward, who won Olympic gold with her country in Tokyo, has also been sharing a revealing and, at times, emotional insight into her journey to the top.
'My story in three photos' sees Leon go back to her early childhood, starting with one of the first images taken of her with a ball at her feet. “I’m wearing an oversized jersey that doesn’t fit, socks that definitely don’t fit,” she says, smiling. “I was just a tiny little thing, so happy to be out on the field with a ball at my feet. I loved it from the very start.”
The next shot takes us on to the ice hockey chapter of Leon’s youth – she excelled at Canada’s national sport before dedicating herself to football – ahead of concluding with the most personal shot of all. Tears are choked back, in fact, as the 30-year-old shows the FIFA cameras an image of bringing home that Olympic gold to her late Nana.
“Before I left the house [ahead of tournaments], she always used to say, ‘Bring me back a medal’,” Leon recalls. “That was the first time she saw it, and she was so happy. It was a good feeling to fulfil her wish.”