299. For the Love Of Sport: Lindsey Horan On Leading the USWNT, Body Acceptance & Falling In Love With the Process

We are back with season 17 and almost 300 episodes of Hurdle! Kicking off this season is Lindsey Horan, captain of the U.S. women’s national soccer team. She shares her insane story as the first American player to sign a professional contract straight out of high school and travel overseas to play for France. We dive into her early days as a professional athlete, her experience with body shaming and feelings of body acceptance, the moment she got the call to be on the U.S. soccer team, and so much more. We talk about her feelings for the upcoming Olympics in Paris and how a supportive sponsor like Adidas really helps athletes like her make a career playing the sport they love. This conversation is full of gems and there may even be a giveaway in this episode — trust me, you don’t want to miss it.

IN THIS EPISODE

Lindsey’s feelings about playing back in France where she first started her pro career (5:58)

Why Lindsey decided to forego college to play overseas out of high school and her reflection on the early days of her pro career (6:40)

Her perspective on playing professional sport and body image (11:30)

Why Lindsey is so grateful to have a brand that supports her through the entirety of her career (18:15)

Looking back on getting the call to be on the U.S. women’s national team (21:20)

What balance means to Lindsey and knowing her limits (24:02)

Lindsey’s perspective on what it means to be part of a team and the impact of strong female friendships (31:45)

How it feels to be a woman in sport right now (36:10)

What Lindsey strives to embody as a leader on the U.S. women’s national team (40:30)

A look forward to the Summer Olympics and how Lindsey copes with the pressure that comes with making the roster (46:15)

Lindsey’s current affirmations (58:50)