First page of the Olympics preview article in the new Sports Illustrated Olympics Preview Magazine.
Fans and readers tweeted @USATODAYsports questions they wanted answered and Morgan obliged; covering a wide array of topics from her most memorable on-field moment to posing in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
USA TODAY Sports: Your first match is July 25 against France, how does the team look?
Alex Morgan: The team is looking great, we’re at the right place we should be, we haven’t peaked yet and once we get to London we’ll be ready to go.
Q: Is there a difference between preparing for your first World Cup and preparing for your first Olympics?
A: I don’t think the preparation is that different, in terms of preparing for a big tournament, both the World Cup and the Olympics have the best of the best so we are preparing the same way.
Q: You were primarily used as a substitute during the World Cup, and since then you have taken a much more pivotal role in the starting lineup, what’s changed?
A: My playing time has increased over the year, but for me, it’s just knowing when to say no to media or work like that, and just focus on soccer and make soccer a priority.
Q: One of the things outside of your soccer career that has received a lot of attention is your modeling. What’s harder? International soccer player or swimsuit model?
A: It’s definitely harder trying to be a model for a day, because I am in no way a model. Soccer is what I grew up doing, it’s my passion and I’m way more comfortable on the field in my soccer cleats.
Q: Bigger accomplishment: Scoring in a World Cup final or beating out Stephen Colbert on the Maxim Hot 100 list?
A: Scoring a goal in a World Cup was my dream as a little girl, I didn’t really dream of being in Maxim when I was 5.
Q: If you weren’t playing soccer, what would you be doing?
A: If I wasn’t playing soccer I would probably be a sports commentator or be a veterinarian, my teammates would tell you how much I love animals.
Q: Who is the dirtiest player on Team USA?
A: That would have to be Rachel Buehler —
Q: You didn’t hesitate with that name, you put her right out there!
A: Well, they don’t call her ‘Buehl-dozer’ for nothing. She’s the nicest person off the field but you get her on the field and she’s going for the ball and if you’re in the way, you’re going down with her.
Q: What is the most memorable moment from your career?
A: My goal against Italy in the World Cup qualifier was probably my most memorable, we had to go to Italy and had to win or we wouldn’t go to the World Cup and I scored in stoppage time.
Alex Morgan Talks Olympics, Sports Illustrated and Maxim’s Hot 100 - BR5
In the recent Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, U.S. women’s soccer player Alex Morgan wore a painted-on bikini, so was she uncomfortable being naked in front of the crew? Plus, she explains how hard she and the U.S. women’s soccer team have been training for the upcoming summer Olympics in London.
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↳ Alex Morgan Being Silly
