How Logarzo ignored doubters to become a football star

Chloe Logarzo hopes her ascension into the Australian Women's Olympic Football Team will act as an inspiration to young girls after being told she was too small to make it as a footballer when she was growing up.

The all-action attacking midfielder is today celebrating being named in Alen Stajcic’s 18-player squad for the Rio Games.

But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the 21-year-old, who revealed on Monday she had to deal with a few rejections as a youngster before realising her dreams.

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“I have a different story to everyone else that is different to Matildas. 

"I played football since I was five but got brought into the elite football world at an older age and got identified at an older age,” Logarzo explained to www.matildas.footballaustralia.com.au in Sydney on Monday. 

“When I was younger I was told I wasn’t big enough or strong enough to be in the teams. I always got pushed back."

“My advice for kids and the path they should follow is one that’s deep inside themselves.

“Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it because you should always prove them wrong. 

"You set your own limits so if you want to exceed those limits you push harder for that.”

While Logarzo’s lithe frame (she’s 1.65m tall) may have seen a few doubters as a youngster, there’s no doubting she’s deserved her spot for Rio.

The Newcastle Jet was excellent in the recent friendlies against New Zealand and will be pushing hard for a starting spot in a midfield with so much depth.

 Emily van Egmond, Elise Kellond-Knight, Katrina Gorry and Tameka Butt are all pushing for starting XI positions. 

Though in Logarzo, the Australian team have someone who isn't afraid to do the hard yards. 

“I’m not the quickest in our team but I’m very agile and I’m one who will always run for that one ball,” Logarzo said.

“I will always push and be the engine for the team.”

Following the Games, Logarzo will head straight to Sweden to link up with her new club Eskilstuna United. 

There, she will see out the season as well as take part in the Women’s UEFA Champions League.

These are exciting times for the smiling Logarzo, who's absolutely loving life as a professional footballer and the challenges she faces to win Gold and, perhaps, a Champions League medal. 

“It’s something I’ve always loved to be able call myself a professional athlete and now I can do that. 

"I wouldn’t ever change that for the world and it’s something that I love doing,” said the former Sydney FC player, who names greats Pele and Diego Maradona as the superstars she looks up to most. 

“It’s awesome being an elite athlete and a role model to kids that are younger than me.

“I was once a young kid who was striving to be an elite athlete and now I’m one of them. It blows me away to have done it a pretty young age.”

Logarzo says she’s very proud of her Italian heritage and revealed her grandparents will be making the trip from Italy to Brazil to watch her take part in the Games.