Megan Rapinoe

1985 -
Fairness, Leadership and Teamwork

“I think I have unique qualities that other people don’t have that can contribute to the team.”

Who Am I?

Megan Rapinoe is one of the top female football players in the world. She played a key role in helping Team USA win two FIFA World Cup Championships and an Olympic gold medal. Megan is one of the best-known players on the team, and she gets a lot of attention. Megan recognises and appreciates that her success is due to being part of a team that works together to achieve a common goal. Megan knows that using her unique talents and combining efforts with others makes her stronger and more successful, whether on or off the field.

What Am I Known For?

She identifies as a lesbian and supports the work of the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN). She is also an ambassador for Athlete Ally, a charity that advocates for ending homophobia and transphobia in sports.

Megan continues working with others to advocate for equal pay and employment opportunities for women. In 2016, she starred with some teammates in a docuseries that followed how they prepared for the Rio Olympics and also addressed the issues of racism and equality.

How About You?

What other character strengths are needed to act in a fair and reasonable way?

Being an ally means not judging someone yourself and sticking up for them if they are being bullied. Can you find examples from people who have acted as allies in action?

Other Amazing People (you can find them on the website)

One of the pioneers of women’s football is Lily Parr; her story can be fully explored on the site. She was a fantastic player, scoring over 900 goals in her long career, despite the FA banning women from playing on their grounds.

Other Useful Resources (available on the website)

Find out about some other Amazing Women Footballers in our free resource. Subscribers can find this helpful resource by logging in. If you are not a subscriber, you can access this resource, and many more, by starting a free trial.

Photo: Jamie Smed, OH [CC BY 2.0]