“I Am Such a Product of… “: Megan Rapinoe Opens Up About the Reason Behind Her Being a Revolutionary Force in Modern Times

There always have been certain stigmas in society. However, only a few people raise their voices against it. One of these people is athlete Megan Rapinoe, a sensation on the US Women’s National Team. Olympic gold medalist Rapinoe has taken a stand on numerous social issues. Rapinoe won gold with the national team at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. As captain of the OL Reign, she has served the US Women’s National Soccer team. Her fans are always curious about the reason behind her bold nature.

She has repeatedly raised issues related to gender discrimination and pay equity. As a result of her illustrated remarks on issues, she is sometimes referred to as the ‘walking protestor.’

Megan Rapinoe describes factors for her bold personality

Megan shared her life stories as an athlete and an activist during an interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America. The two-time world cup winner joined the show via video call and discussed several topics. In response to Robin’s question, she explained how her personality lends itself to activism.

Megan described her family and the conservative community in which she lives. She said,

She added, “A small town kid from a really conservative area, we might not agree on everything or have very different views on things, frankly. But I feel like I am such a product of where I am from and those sort of small-town values.”

READ MORE: “Long History of Service to the Country”- Megan Rapinoe’s Mother Discusses Her Patriotic Nature Leading to Involvement in Social Issues

She has been subjected to criticism from time to time as a result of her relationship with Sue Bird. But, despite everything, she has achieved success in her career. Meanwhile, she has made a lasting impression on the young generation. However, there was a time when she faced backlash, judgment, and criticism due to her personality.

Rapinoe and The National Anthem controversy

During the 2016 National Anthem, Megan did something unexpected. However, she sat on her knees in solidarity with former NFL player Colin Kaepernick in the match. This protest was conducted in protest of police brutality and racial discrimination.

During an interview with Yahoo! Sports, Megan’s mother defended her daughter. She described her family background: “Her dad was drafted during the Vietnam War. Her grandfather, who lives with us, he’s  94, World War II vet. My father, Korean War, suffered many injuries. I mean, we have a long family history of service to the country.” While Megan has experienced all the backlash and criticism, she has stood straight and fought everything on her own.

WATCH THE STORY: Megan Rapinoe, Lindsay Von, Chloe Kim, Allyson Felix, and Other Olympians appear at ESPYS 2022.