CHARTING HER COURSE | SYDNEY LEROUX

We love this time of year when we have all of our favorite sports happening during this time of year. We turn our attention to soccer and Angel City FC. We took some time to sit down with one of their star athletes, Sydney Leroux, Team USA Soccer Gold Medalist for London 2012 as well as being a World Cup Winner for USWNT at the 2015 FIFA World Cup.

We wanted to catch up with her to find out how she got into the sport, playing for Angel City FC, her partnership with TYLENOL as well as how it assisted her through recovering from her injuries so that she could get back to the game and team that she loves!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with soccer and realize you want to play professionally?

SYNDEY LEROUX: I fell in love with soccer probably when I was around four or five. My mom put me in every sport possible because I was crazy and she wanted me to burn off some energy. I just loved scoring goals and so I continued to play. I also played baseball, but I played with boys. And so my mom was like, “Okay, you need to make a decision”, and I decided to stick with soccer.

AM: Was there anything behind that decision to pick soccer for baseball?

SL: Well, the boys started getting huge and I stayed the same size. And I just felt like I gravitated towards soccer.

AM: We know the season has started for Angel City FC, but what are you most looking forward to this season? What have you enjoyed so far?

SL: I'm looking forward to just continuing to push, we're midway through the season now and I think we've seen really good things. I think just like working off of that and trying to be a good teammate and do as much as I possibly can.

AM: What does it mean to play the sport you love and represent your passion? Whether it's on the global stage or whether it's just playing in LA? What does that mean to you to get to represent?

SL: It means so much. I think that I've been able to see the growth of women's soccer and women's sports, like being in it and being involved. The NWSL started like 13 years ago, and I was there for that. There was this fear about like, are we going to continue or is it going to fold like all of the other women's leagues before the NWSL. I was playing in Boston at a little high school field with a couple hundred fans. Someone had a little camera and it went on YouTube, and now I play in front of a sold out stadium with 22,000 people in Los Angeles. I don't think anyone could have ever thought that, but I think we pushed for that and this is what we want. So yeah, I'm just so happy to be a part of it and know that the future can even be better.

AM: Why have you partnered with TYLENOL and what is the Care Commitment?

SL: I partnered with TYLENOL because I realized that it's everywhere in my life- from my muscle aches and pains to the kids having a fever. I just realized it's everywhere, so it made sense. Coming back from my injury, I knew how hard that was. I'm really excited to announce the TYLENOL Care Commitment, which is a recovery fund to help injured athletes get back into the game. TYLENOL is committing funding to help injured athletes recover and compete once again, starting this year with a sponsorship to the Women’s Sports Foundation.

AM: How do you manage training during the in-season and how does that compare to when you're in the off-season?

SL: Training in season is tough. But I would also say that training in the off-season and getting ready for a grueling season, we play like 10 months a year, so the offseason is very short. I just try to stay healthy, that's my number one right now, and it's been going good so far.

AM: As a mom, how do you balance that training and playing soccer in the games with the activities with your kids and being their role model?

SL: I think that there's no perfect balance, you just have to do as best as you can. For me to be a role model to my children and to other moms, too, has been amazing. I also think just being able to play with them and do what I do and bring them along with me, I think that that's been really helpful. But it's just about sometimes getting outside and playing.

AM: Do you have any advice for moms balancing that busy career with raising a family?

SL: I think don't be so hard on yourself, give yourself grace. Your kids just love you and as long as you're present there when you can be, I think that's all that matters.

AM: Any other upcoming projects we should keep an eye out for? What's the next thing for Sydney?

SL: Yeah, I actually play in my 150th game coming up against Orlando, so I'm looking forward to that.

IG @sydneyleroux

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 135 Sydney Leroux| PG 136 George Orozco | 9PLAYLIST MULTI PG 138 - 141 |

Read the JUL ISSUE #103 of Athleisure Mag and see CHARTING HER COURSE | Sydney Leroux in mag.

FOR THE LOVE OF SOCCER | BERNARD KAMUNGO

When we watch our favorite sports or athletes, each person comes with a backstory, dreams, aspirations, and inspirations that come together through their love of the game and what it means to them. We sat down with Bernard Kamungo who plays for FC Dallas as well as joined the USMNT team earlier this year. He talks with us about how his love for soccer which started in the refugee camps of Tanzania kept him on a positive path and continued when he came to the US as a child. Unbeknownst to him, his love for the game would result in him going pro and being able to live his dreams of going out on the pitch throughout the season. We also talk about the importance of proper tools for recovery when injured as well as what he does prior to and after his matches.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with soccer and at what point did you realize that you wanted to play it?

BERNARD KAMUNGO: I started playing when I was very young, probably as soon as I started walking. Growing up in Tanzania where soccer is the main sport, that made it easy for me to fall in love with playing soccer.

AM: You grew up in a Tanzanian refugee camp and began playing there. Can you tell me about the early days of you playing the game?

BK: I was born in a refugee camp and playing soccer helped me avoid a lot of negative stuff going on in and around my life. My family could not afford a living. We could not afford food, clothes, etc. So, most of the time, my friends and I were playing soccer after school for fun. 1v1, 2v2, and so on, just to get away from the negativity. It was the only thing that brought joy into my life at the time.

PHOTO COURTESY | Bernard Kamungo

AM: When you turned 14, you came to the US and continued playing. What was it like coming here and playing this sport?

BK: It was a dream come true coming to the US. I had seen a lot of movies, videos, and pictures of how amazing the country was, and I always wanted to come to the U.S. The freedom, jobs, and the culture. It is amazing. Some of those things, we don’t have them back home. Soccer played a big part for me to adapt and connect with people in the U.S., besides my family. I had to get out of my comfort zone. It was great getting to use the real soccer ball and cleats to play soccer. I believed one day I would get to do that, and it felt great to be able to do so for the first time.

AM: At what point did you want to go pro?

BK: I hate saying this now that I’m a pro footballer, but honestly, at that time, I had never thought about going pro. It was not realistic for me, so I tried not to think about it. Even though I had a lot of people that believed in me and knew I could make it.

AM: You signed with FC Dallas in 2021, what did it mean to you to join this team?

BK: It was surreal. Especially for someone like me who had just come from a refugee camp with such limited dreams. Being able to achieve that in such a short amount of time was unbelievable.

AM: When you're in season, what's it like when you're training for your games? Tell me about what an average week looks like in terms of training, working out, etc.

BK: My weekly schedule is not that bad. We mostly practice Monday through Friday and play games on Saturday, with an off day on Sunday.

Our practice time changes depending on the month we are in, and we adjust based on the weather. Right now, our report time is 8:00 a.m. I wake up at 6:50 a.m., pray, shower, meditate, have some tea, and head to the stadium for breakfast. I get to the stadium around 7:50 a.m. After breakfast, I go to the gym to foam roll, stretch, and for mobility training before I am ready for practice starting at 9:00 or 9:30 am. Depending on how long meetings take after practice and training, I take an ice bath and get a massage, if I’m sore or tired. I am always looking out for my body and overall well-being, so whether that means settling in for some TLC after practice or suiting up with The BetterGuard during practice and games, I will do what I can to make sure I am performing at my best and preventing any injuries that I can. After that, I’ll eat at the stadium or go home and have lunch, about an hour or two after practice. 

When I’m home, I spend time with my family for a bit, take a 30-minute nap, sometimes more, depending on how I feel. I will read, play FIFA, or watch a movie, while I’m wearing my Hyperice recovery boots. I end my day by eating a healthy dinner at 7:30 p.m. and going to bed around 10:30 p.m. before repeating this same schedule the following day.

AM: What are you looking forward to this season as I know you're currently in the regular season right now.

BK: This season, my goal is to lift a trophy at this wonderful club with all my amazing teammates.

PHOTO COURTESY | Bernard Kamungo

AM: Do you have any routines that you do before a match to get ready for the game and what do you do post-game to come down from all that energy on the field?

BK: My game day routine is so simple. Most of our games are played at 7:30 p.m. and we report at 5:40 p.m. I’ll sleep as much as I can the night before the game. I normally wake up between 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. and have brunch. I keep my mind and body at ease, preparing for games by wearing my recovery boots and relaxing for a bit by reading, while getting in the game day mindset by playing a bit of FIFA or watching clips of soccer games. I then take a 30-minute nap and, when I wake up, eat my pregame meal by 3:00 or 3:30 p.m., at the latest. Once I shower and meditate, I head to the stadium. My head is in the game, and we hopefully come home victorious. After the game, I go home, but I find it hard to sleep after a game. I’m not a talker after games, so I just sit and take it all in, whether I am sitting alone in my room, playing FIFA, or with a small group of friends.

AM: What are your must-haves that you use to assist you in playing the game?

BK: Before the game, I must have either tea, hot milk or rice as my pregame meal. On the field, I rely on kinesiology tape to keep my wrist stabilized and The BetterGuard ankle brace to keep my ankle protected from serious injury. I went down during the end of the first game of the playoffs last season against Seattle. All I want to do is play soccer and compete and, when injury gets in the way, it is the most frustrating thing. Wearing The BetterGuard, I have been able to recover faster and get back on the field quickly, rejoining my team in Dallas to finish the 2023 season and join the USMNT to start 2024. The Betterguards’ team has been working to take their signature product to the next level, and I am excited for everyone to get their hands on The BetterGuard 2.0, launching July 31, to experience the peak athletic performance I have while wearing the brace.

AM: When you're not on the field, how do you take time for yourself?

BK: I like to stay indoors, so I spend most of my time inside, hanging out with my family and friends while trying to stay focused.

AM: Are there any projects coming up that you would like us to know about?

BK: I am so thankful for everyone’s support and look forward to seeing you at an upcoming FC Dallas match. Our season runs through October, and you can find more information, including where to watch or how to buy tickets at fcdallas.com. You can find me on Instagram @bernardk17.

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WATCH WORLD CUP 2018 IN STYLE

GOAL! Who are you cheering for this year as the World Cup 2018 takes place starting today through July 14th! As you embrace your hometown or your honorary hometown - there are a number of ways that you can rock great styles at your viewing parties! Throughout the season, we will add brands that have great style that you can add to your event.

We're kicking it off with our friends at Yandy.com who have amazing bodysuits that are a fun way to cheer on your favorite soccer team whether worn solo or with your favorite denim looks! 

You have to have options and UMBRO has a number of tees within their 2018 Geo Graphic Tee collection that lets you rock your country of choice!

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Mexico Football Bodysuit/Yandy.com

Brasil 2018 Geo Graphic Tee/UMBRO.com

PHOTO COURTESY | Yandy.com

Read more from the May Issue of Athleisure Mag.