Olivia Gibson used rejection as motivation and is now thriving in US college game

JUST 12 months ago, Olivia Gibson didn't make the cut at two National League teams she trialed for. 

At the time it was easy to blame others for her misfortune but in reality she needed to pull up her socks, and that, she certainly did. A different attitude and mindset were key and it was those two factors that gave her the Will to try again as she went about pursuing a career outside of Cork.

And in July of this year, she headed for the States.

Five months later, Mayfield girl Olivia competed the season scoring a hat-trick in the final game with Neosho Community College in Kansas helping her team to top the league.

An amazing few months to date and here Gibson tells us about her life-changing experience.

"This experience has been probably one of the best ones I’ve had while playing soccer. If someone told me four years ago I would be in America playing my best soccer scoring 20 goals and getting 11 assists in a season I probably would’ve laughed at them. 

"It’s something that has changed my life in the most positive of ways.

"At the end of the season, the league and the committee of all the NJCAA Leagues across America announce individual awards for players I was delighted to be included in so many categories."

Her performances throughout the season earned her accolades which include Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference, the best 11 in her league, and First Team All-American, which is the biggest award in America for athletes.

"Achieving such big awards in only my first year over here in America and making a name for myself in a whole other country has to say something. Winning these awards just topped everything I’ve ever won because of how I lost my love for the game a few years back.

To make this comeback, move across the world to showcase my ability and for it to be recognised just shows how much I was committed to making a difference when I got here.

"This is only the beginning of my new journey and looking back at all the disappointments and setbacks I have had regarding soccer in the past that almost made me pack up soccer for good, that all just makes me laugh now because I know what I have is a special talent and I can go very far with my ability once I put the hard work in."

She proved her doubters wrong in style. 

"I am also very grateful for all the setbacks I have had because those things made me the strong person I am today and made me determined to prove everyone wrong who has ever doubted me. 

"It’s satisfying to me knowing the people who have doubted me and never believed in me will be watching me get rewarded and being successful in what I do best.

"I’ll get home back to Ireland in the middle of December and I'm really excited to get back and see everyone again. I’ll fly back out to America on January 16 so I get a full month back home which is great. 

BOUNCED BACK

"When I left Cork I did have a few disappointments on the way. I was turned away by Cork City in pre-season because I wasn’t good enough and also had a little spell on trial with Treaty United which didn’t work out, but for any player who ever gets turned away because of their ability, I think it just goes down to how you react. 

This was a very tough time for me because I had just returned back to soccer after not playing for a couple of months and my confidence was at its lowest point. I'm happy I was able to turn things around.

"My plans and aims for next season is to win the league again. Hopefully do it unbeaten again. I want to go one step further next year I want to go to the national tournament. We lost out in a bid to go this year so next year I want us to get automatic qualification for it and win our playoff games. 

"But for now, I'm looking forward to returning home for a month over Christmas. It will be great to see everyone again."