Tierna Davidson shows up when the stakes are highest. A two-time Olympic medalist, World Cup winner, and now captain of NJ/NY Gotham Football Club, she’s built a career by staying cool under pressure — and helping her teammates do the same.
We caught up with Davidson to talk about how she uses self-doubt to her advantage, why developing an identity outside of soccer is so important, and how she learned to crave the high-stress moments.
This interview was conducted before Davidson was declared out for the season due to an ACL tear.
“We are all so disappointed for Tierna. She is such a good human being. Rooting hard for a fast, healthy recovery,” says Jeff Greer, vice president of communications for Gotham FC, on behalf of the organization.
Remember That You Deserve To Be Here
“When I was a teenager on the national team, I had to remind myself: The coaching staff is opting for me to be here. I have a skill set that can add value to the team. So in those moments of ‘Why am I here? What am I doing? Do people like me? Do people trust me on the field?’ you kind of need to remind yourself: ‘I'm here for a reason. I have skills that can be helpful, I can always learn, but I'm also going to contribute in any way that I can.’”
Let Your Doubt Help You
“I think most players have a healthy amount of doubt in their ability. A little bit is good, it means you’re just unsatiated enough that you're going to have to continue to learn because you feel like there are people nipping at your heels.”
Embrace Pressure
“You almost have to condition yourself to learn to really, really crave those big moments. Instead of thinking, ‘Oh, God, I hope I don’t mess up,’ lean into, ‘Oh my God, what a great opportunity it is to be here.’”
Cultivate Your Identity Outside of Work
“Soccer isn’t everything, and it's not what gives me value as a person. It's not like people are not going to love me less or love me more as a person if I'm a great player on the field. And so I really focus on developing myself as a person outside of the sport. I find joy in different hobbies and activities. I love reading. We are still furnishing our house, and we finally got a chair and a lovely lamp for our reading nook. So I love to be able to sit there and read a bit. It's a nice escape.”
Lead With Empathy
"Especially with athletes, I feel like we often forget that we're people. And I think that's where a lot of mental health practicing and support really comes in. We're all just living our first and only life. We're all just trying to figure it out. So just be patient and compassionate with people. And most importantly, be patient and compassionate with yourself."
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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