By Sarah Tone, Communications Coordinator
Leading up to the 2022 Canada Summer Games, we are featuring the dedicated coaches who spend countless hours giving back to sport.
Let’s get to know Women’s Soccer Coach, Vanessa Martinez Lagunas!
Why did you get involved with coaching?
I have been coaching soccer for 18 years. I got involved in coaching because I wanted more young girls to see more female coaching role models. During my playing career, spanning youth, college, professional and national team levels, I only had male coaches. Thus, I wondered if women could become coaches too. I would love to encourage more girls and women to get into this wonderful profession and show them that we can do this too.
What do you love most about coaching?
I love the personal aspect of it, specifically the relationships you get to build with your athletes and how you can guide them to become not only better players but also better people overall and make a positive difference in their life.
My proudest accomplishment as a coach is seeing my current and former athletes succeeding at the personal, athletic and professional levels in their life.
What are your team goals for the 2022 Canada Games?
Win a medal for Manitoba!
What do you want to remember as they gear up for the Games?
“The vision of a champion is someone who is bent over at the point of exhaustion when no one else is watching” – Anson Dorrance
