Leah Williamson Women’s Health Cover

If everyone can seem again on the yr that was with a pleased smile, it has to be England’s Lionesses. Their triumph at the Euros has been broadly cited as a big large level in an normally, er…testing calendar year.

A time when joy was sparked across the country – even in these not normally fond of the men’s video game – thanks to the team’s sporting results (it was in fact coming dwelling this time) but also the symbolism.

So, who superior to front Women’s Health and fitness‘s first issue of 2023 than their captain, the England skipper Leah Williamson.

It goes without having stating that Leah – who was born and elevated in Milton Keynes in a household of eager football admirers and who plays in defence for Arsenal in the Women’s Super League – is exceptionally gifted on the pitch. At just 25, she’s a formidable chief and figurehead for the women’s video game, way too.

So substantially so that she’s tipped (for every The Moments) to be named in the King’s New Yr Honours. That is together with fellow Lioness and Arsenal teammate Beth Mead (who took residence the Golden Boot at Euro 22 and was also awarded European Player of the Match) and the Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman.

As befits her position, Leah offers a persuasive job interview – one thing everyone who viewed her impassioned speech on the eve of the Euros remaining will know.

In the extremely different setting of a quiet café around her property, chatting in excess of coffee (me), incredibly hot chocolate (Leah – she’s not a espresso supporter) and assorted pastries, the Lionesses’ captain is just as remarkable.

The kind of human being who presents thoughtful responses devoid of overthinking. Someone who plainly values being – and this is an adjective she references often – ‘real’.

So, from levelling the actively playing discipline for female footballers to her expertise of crippling interval soreness, general performance stress and even her particular objectives away from the pitch, no subjects were being off restrictions in her interview.

You can examine the total thing in the January issue of Women’s Wellness. But, in the meantime, in this article are 6 factors I uncovered from obtaining breakfast with the smart, sensitive and steadfast Lioness-in-Chief.

1 Successful the Euros was a fairytale – and the comedown has been real

Naomi BakerGetty Images

‘It scares the s**t out of me if I’m honest that every single day for the rest of my lifetime I will chase that sensation. I really don’t see how it could have been topped,’ states Leah.

‘The only point I’d enjoy to do is go again and enjoy it from the stands. As the final whistle went, my grandma just put her head on my mum’s shoulder and went, “She did it.”‘

No, you’ve obtained some thing in your eye.

2 Leah has combined feelings about fame

‘Well I enjoy it mainly because we can achieve so several people today. Like, girls’ mums and dads don’t have to look for us out like mine had to,’ she suggests, of the positives about her new profile.

But? ‘I hate the fame and that facet of it. I detest that to get from my car to you in the fastest time I want to put a cap on. But when you grow to be a experienced women’s footballer, like, that is your function, it’s a joint obligation.’



Rosaline Shahnavaz

‘If you are not prepared to [be famous] you are undertaking a disservice to the match and all all those women that experienced to faux to be boys to be capable to engage in. I fully grasp that I stand on the shoulders of those people men and women.’

A group which includes Leah’s have mum, Mandy, and her footballing hero, Rachel Yankey.

‘I do not want [fame] to transform me. For the previous two yrs, I’ve only actually put in time with men and women I currently knew,’ she carries on.

‘I’m not fearful of creating new good friends, but I will not be held accountable the exact same way that I would with my individuals.’

3 Leah’s efficiency anxiety experienced her wishing absent her profession

The downside of actively playing for your girlhood club and the region you enjoy? For an individual as established to do as great a job as Leah, the psychological pressure threatened to overwhelm her.

‘I felt like I wanted to acquire for my club and my nation, and if I felt that was less than menace, I’d be a wreck. I’d have thoughts like ‘well, when I retire, I won’t have to deal with these nerves’, which is f*cked! Like, I’m wishing absent my job due to the fact I just can’t offer with my individual overall performance anxiety.’



Rosaline Shahnavaz

Reduction came, ultimately, by way of periods with Arsenal and England psychologist Kate Environmentally friendly. Her method had Leah sensation back on form in just a fortnight – and she’s however doing the job with Eco-friendly these days. Of her working experience, Leah suggests: ‘I owe my daily life to my pysch’.

4 Leah was worried endometriosis would sabotage her Euros overall performance

Final yr, when out with a hamstring harm, Leah was diagnosed with endometriosis – something that made sense, given the agonizing periods she’s extensive experienced.

‘Before the Euros I experienced a concussion, which they say can truly affect your future period, and it was poor – like, definitely bad. You know when you’re on the rest room ground and virtually like: “I just can’t move.” When it is far too late to get the tablets because I’m, like, in it now.’

She was specifically concerned about her endometriosis flaring up in advance of the England vs Norway semi closing.

‘I was like, “it simply cannot transpire”. Like, I basically won’t be in a position to perform. [Having an endometriosis flare up] is a huge dread when you get to a tournament not injured…I really don’t change too much all around [my cycle] now. Unless of course I’m on the flooring. And then I’m like: “I won’t make it nowadays”,’ Leah describes.

‘I’m a skilled athlete, I’ve often been like, “let us get on with it”,’ she states of how she’s dealt with the tough durations that characterise the issue.

‘But you get to a particular age when you in fact say: “this is a definitely massive f*cking problem”. I’m pretty positive if males experienced periods we would have figured out a way to halt them by now with out executing any damage.’

Preach, captain.

5 Leah’s disappointed by how the women’s recreation has been held again…

…but happy of the way her club has taken practical measures in direction of enhanced parity concerning the men’s and women’s groups.

Of the way the men’s activity was traditionally prioritised about the women’s Leah says: ‘It wasn’t how Arsenal had been it was how football experienced been. The gentlemen are in this article and the females are right here.’

‘And it’s like, no shit, for the reason that [the FA] stopped us enjoying [ON FOOTBALL LEAGUE GROUNDS] so we have been 50 yrs at the rear of,’ she provides.

‘There’s no f*cking surprise that you have 60,000 men and women at games and we have a few…I imagine that filters into the club. It’s been like, “the boys are in the health club so you can’t go in”,’ she reveals.

But now? ‘Two many years on we’re moving to a new facility points have all adjusted.’

6 Leah has designed self have confidence in – on and off the pitch

The Lionesses captain is a lady with lots of strings to her proverbial bow – she even has ongoing accountancy scientific tests on the again-burner. Fittingly, she’s fairly non-prescriptive about her very long-time period objectives.



Rosaline Shahnavaz

‘[Football] is not my every thing. To keep on to do this for an additional 10 years is really a overwhelming believed. If you requested me what I want to be in five yrs, I’d just say happy’

‘I had my system from when I was a child: I was likely to get married at 24 I’d have a baby [at] 26. I seriously held on to that things,’ she recollects.

But now? ‘I’ve taken all that off [the timeline]. Since if it takes place, it occurs. I have learnt to genuinely have confidence in my inner thoughts and myself now.’

Particularly as she need to.