V365 Athlete Connect:
Carli Lloyd, U.S Soccer Olympic Gold Medalist

Delran High School
Class of 2000

Midfielder, Chicago Red Stars

Photos courtesy of
www.carlilloyd.com

There are moments in sports where, if you can achieve them, the memory will live on in infamy for many generations. The winning touchdown in the Super Bowl. The winning home run in the World Series. How about the winning soccer goal in the Olympics, with millions of people all over the world watching?
The talented soccer star Carli Lloyd accomplished that in 2008 to give the U.S Women's soccer team the gold medal victory over Brazil. She's now lighting up the field as a member of the Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer. She has found success and will continue to work hard for more, but all success has its roots. Carli talks to V365 about some of those roots - her high school years - and how that has helped her become the athlete and person that she is today.

V365: How was that Olympic experience?
CL: The Olympic experience was amazing; one that I will never forget. That was the first time I won something huge with a team.

V365: You earned a lot of accolades while in high school. How do you suggest current high school students handle the accolades that they may get?
CL: I tried to remain as humble as I could all through high school. I wanted to continue to get better and that made me work even harder. It can go to your head but you must remember that you have to act as if you are the last one on the squad fighting for a position.

V365: What did you learn playing high school soccer that still helps you today?
CL: It was an adjustment in high school, having to manage school, friends and soccer. It wasn't easy but the busier I was, the better I could manage things. College is even worse, so high school gave me a little taste of what was to come.

Lloyd during the 2008 Summer Olympics

V365: How did you balance academics with your high school sports career?
CL: I was usually organized and that helped me balance soccer and my academics. I wrote things down that needed to be done and I made sure I got them done.

V365: What was the hardest part of the transition from high school to college?
CL: I think the academics. School was a lot harder in college than high school. You enter adulthood in college. You are on your own more and can't rely on anyone else but yourself to get things done.

V365: What advice do you give to current high school athletes who want to continue to succeed?
CL: Dream, and dream big. Anything is attainable if you believe and work hard.

Carli is running a summer soccer camp for ages 9-16. For more information and registration, visit the
Carli Lloyd Summer Soccer Camp website.