The land of Colombia has produced some of the most remarkable talents in soccer. From midfield maestros like Carlos Valderrama to goalkeeping sensations Rene Higuita, the country has never stopped producing stars. This tradition has also extended to the women’s game, with modern-day stars like Mayra Ramírez and teenage sensation Linda Caicedo carrying forward the legacy of their nation’s legendary figures.

Be it from the revered academies or making it through the streets, each player had a unique journey. But what if we tell you that the Colombian women’s national team discovered a gem from the police force?

“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans,” they say. And who are we to deny it? Well, so won’t you, especially after hearing the story of Katherine Tapia. From patrolling the streets as a police officer to finding herself shining on the field at the SheBelieves Cup, prepare to be amazed!

A tough beginning in life for Katherine Tapia

Born on December 7, 1992, Katherine Tapia’s path to professional soccer was anything but conventional. Raised in the Santa Cruz de Lorica region of Colombia, she was close to the beautiful game. It’s not like Katherine never pursued to do so from her childhood days. However, poor financial conditions forced her to initially tread a typical life path instead.

Though Tapia was lucky enough to attend the University of Córdoba for higher education, life was still hard on her. With little financial support from her parents, the future goalie was forced to take up part-time work. She used to work as a nanny and even a house cleaner in order to make ends meet. Some of the earnings from such miscellaneous work eventually allowed Katherine to freely pursue her passion for soccer.

But again, it wasn’t enough for her to independently chase her dreams. So that compelled Tapiato to join Colombia’s riot police. Locally, it is termed as Esmad but its actual translation is Mobile Anti-Disturbance Squadron. But that didn’t mean she lost touch with the beautiful game. Luckily, she made the official team of the police force, where often times matches used to take place. But who would have thought that her life was about to be changed in the very next moment?

The turning point that no one expected!

Interestingly, while playing a match for the force, Katherine Tapia’s talent somehow caught the eye of Colombian Primera A side Atlético Nacional. Regarded as one of the biggest clubs in Medellín, they were impressed with Tapia’s goalkeeping skills. That quickly saw Atlético Nacional bring her into their ranks, which officially saw the start of her professional soccer career. She played for them between 2018–2020.

That further saw Katherine boost her soccer resume. After joining rivals América de Cali in 2020, she went to Bogota-based club Santa Fe a couple of years later. In 2022, Tapia decided to make things more international, signing up for Chilean side Santiago Morning. There, she was able to clinch the Premios FutFem – Best Goalkeeper award. However, her stay was cut short just to one season as the 32-year-old joined Brazilian Serie A side Palmeiras in 2023.

If you think that’s enough from Tapia in making history, there’s more. Back when she was playing for Atlético Nacional in October, the veteran became the first goalkeeper to score in the Colombian women’s league. The goal came after she converted a penalty during her team’s 3-0 victory over Bucaramanga. This feat saw her carry forward Colombia’s tradition of goalkeepers who aren’t afraid to find the back of the net—a legacy famously shaped by René Higuita.

Today, Katherine Tapia continues to make her name also on the international front. She started for the Colombian national team to face USWNT in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup opener. Though Las Chicas Superpoderosas endured a 2-0 defeat, Tapia did make some brilliant saves.

Be that as it may, it’s quite remarkable how one’s life can change in seconds. We would like to know your thoughts in the comments.