TicketsCINCINNATI -- Three Cincinnati alumni are headed to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and Vanessa Gilles will represent the Bearcats on the pitch Wednesday, when Team Canada takes on Japan at 6:30 a.m. ET. Fans can watch the game on NBC Sports Network.
Canada also joins host Japan, Great Britain and Chile in Group E.
Gilles became the second rostered player to have earned a call-up to her native national team and the first to see action at UC before earning the call-up. As a senior in 2017, she was the fifth Bearcat to earn a league Defensive Player of the Year (and first since 2001) while also claiming CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.
"I think my four years at UC were monumental for me being [in the Olympics]," Gilles said. "One thing that stuck with me that's helped me along the way was Coach Stafford's mentality of the relentless grind. He always used to say hard work would beat talent, and that's something I've taken with me every step of the way. I've never been the most talented, technical or tactical player, but I've always been the hardest worker. That's what I've had going for me and what I'll take with me from UC for sure."
Gilles joins former Bearcats Jordan Thompson (USA, volleyball) and Annette Echikunwoke (Nigeria, track and field) in the Games.
Canada also joins host Japan, Great Britain and Chile in Group E.
Gilles became the second rostered player to have earned a call-up to her native national team and the first to see action at UC before earning the call-up. As a senior in 2017, she was the fifth Bearcat to earn a league Defensive Player of the Year (and first since 2001) while also claiming CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.
"I think my four years at UC were monumental for me being [in the Olympics]," Gilles said. "One thing that stuck with me that's helped me along the way was Coach Stafford's mentality of the relentless grind. He always used to say hard work would beat talent, and that's something I've taken with me every step of the way. I've never been the most talented, technical or tactical player, but I've always been the hardest worker. That's what I've had going for me and what I'll take with me from UC for sure."
Gilles joins former Bearcats Jordan Thompson (USA, volleyball) and Annette Echikunwoke (Nigeria, track and field) in the Games.