In the history of the USWNT, no player has created divided opinions like Megan Rapinoe. She became the backbone of the team for an extended period and assisted them in securing numerous World Cups and Olympic gold medals. Even though she missed a penalty in the recently concluded FIFA Women’s World Cup, she still remains a legend. Therefore, she had earlier credited her sister, Rachael Rapinoe, for providing her with the platform she warranted. 

But Rachael’s career failed to pan out like her sister. Even like Megan, Rachael focused on soccer and played for some time. Unlike her sister, Rapinoe’s soccer career derailed following substance abuse and other issues. So, who is Rachael Rapinoe?

Tough upbringing for Megan Rapinoe and Rachael!

Back when her career started to make inroads, Rapinoe stated how her sister was a better player. According to GQ Sports, Megan Rapinoe stated, “I always remember Rachael being the best athlete that I knew, certainly the best in our household.” Rapinoe’s mother, Denise, remembered how Rachael was a better athlete and Megan was slow to develop. The two sisters played in high school Elk Grove Pride in Sacramento, where they started plying their trade. Soon after, their talent got them selected for the state and regional Olympic Developmental Program. 

With her substance abuse, she got her first prescription at 21 and later became an addict. Since then, her career curtailed as her mental health struggles became a cause of concern. However, her friends and family failed to understand the depth of it. While Rapinoe flaunts her hairstyle on the grand stage, Rachael prefers to keep her thoughts within. Before these issues, the twins made steps forward in their careers and consequently, earned call-ups to the various teams.

Yet, the family bond stayed loose in the yesteryears. 

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When her mother divorced her father, Denise, and her twins shifted to another home. There, the two children were involved in sporting activities and soccer became the top game of preference! In 2004, they received offers from the University of Portland, which they accepted. During that time, Megan left for the FIFA U-19 World Championship in Thailand while Rachael stayed back, with her career slowly derailing ever since. 

Rachael struggled in her career as Megan Rapinoe shone!

Rachael had an issue with a genetic predisposition to anemia that caused her health to weaken. She could not run, let alone play soccer. The career trajectory of the twins went on a mixed coil, but Rachael returned to soccer after 35 iron infusions. Getting healthier, the forward resumed her playing career by first winning All-West Coast Conference Second Team. Yet injuries are frequent on a soccer field. 

And one of the most dreaded ones to fear is the ACL injury. It is a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament in your knee, which forces you to lose stability. The recovery time takes up to 9-10 months, which causes mental health issues for many athletes. With isolation looming over, substance abuse took a new turn.

After all those years of substance abuse, she returned to her roots in 2010. Regaining her fitness levels, Rapinoe got up to play the game she loved. Along with a team in Iceland, she turned to soccer and got another offer from a team in Sweden. The mission to work hard slightly faded with a fracture to her ankle. With one more injury, Rachael “decided to hang up the cleats.”

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But her career plans were far from over. By the time she studied the use of recreational cannabis, they legalized it in Oregon in 2015. With the help of scientific studies, Rachael met some people to create a product that would reduce pain for people. 

Creating a way to assist athletes with her brand-new product!

Along with Kendra Freeman and Britt Price and a designer named Brett Schwager, Rachael carved out a CBD brand suitable for athletes. They launched Mendi in 2019, only for the other three founders to leave the brand for greener pastures. Rachael, determined to make it work, saw her sponsoring two women’s pro soccer teams, the North Carolina Courage and the Utah Royals. Investors seem to be attracted to the brand as Mendi grew to greater heights. 

A retired lacrosse star who played for the U.S. in two World Lacrosse Championships, Kyle Harrison became a Mendi ambassador. Dreams do become a reality! The growth of Mendi became a boon for the former soccer player. Rachael endorsed her products, and sponsorships came aplenty. With a myriad of possibilities, Rachael remains grounded to keep the business in her backyard. 

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Denise loves her products and uses them for pain relief from knee arthritis. From being a promising soccer player to an addict and then a budding entrepreneur, Rachael Rapinoe’s journey deserves a story. Showcasing the best of her abilities, she sits on the advisory board of the University of Portland women’s soccer team. Like her sister, her career panned out to be terrific.