Milly Clegg has had an action-packed two years as she arrives in Paris for the Olympics. Photo: Lynne Cameron/www.photosport.nz
The 'baby' of the Football Ferns at last year's FIFA Women's World Cup is also the country's youngest athlete bound for Paris.
At just 18 Olympic Games selection adds to an action packed career for Milly Clegg.
She also now follows in the footsteps of her mum, Kylie Clegg (formerly Foy), who captained the Black Sticks and played at two Olympics (in Barcelona in 1996 and Sydney 2000).
Milly Clegg with her parents and a former Football Fern at the time the World Cup squad was announced last year. Photo: Lynne Cameron/www.photosport.nz
Background:
Date of birth: 1 November 2005
Clubs: Wellington Phoenix, Western Sydney Wanderers, Racing Louisville FC
Position: Striker
Olympic event: Women's football
Achievements:
- Helped Auckland United win 2022 Kate Sheppard Cup, NZ's top domestic trophy
- Finalist for the A-League Women Young Footballer of the Year
- Played for Ferns U17, U20 and senior World Cups in just 10 months
- Scored twice in the U-17 World Cup and once in the U-20 World Cup
- Secured a three-year contract with Racing Louisville to play in the US women's league
Milly Clegg was still a Mt Albert Grammar student when she was chosen for the U17 and U20 World Cups and soon after leaving school found herself named in the senior squad for the FIFA World Cup that was played in New Zealand last year.
In the meantime she had also moved from Auckland to Wellington to join her first professional club, the Phoenix. This was followed by a short stint at the Western Sydney Wanderers and from there a contract with Racing Louisville FC in the US.
The US league is regarded, alongwith the English league, as the toughest in the world for women.
"I never did think it would happen so fast, a dream come true, it's always been a goal of mine to get to one of these big leagues and one of these big teams," she told 1News.
Clegg is one of only three Kiwis playing in the US league, defender Abbi Erceg is also with Louisville while Football Ferns captain Ali Riley plays for Los Angeles.
Now with eight senior caps Clegg is off to her first Olympics - like more than half the 18-strong squad.
The side's buildup has been hampered by the controversy surrounding coach Jitka Klimkova who was the subject of an employment investigation and is not going to Paris.
The Football Ferns have been drawn in Group A alongside reigning champions Canada, Colombia, and hosts France.
They kick off the tournament on Friday vs Canada in Saint-Etienne, before facing Colombia on 29 July, and France on 1 August, both in Lyon.
Women's football made its Olympic debut at the Atlanta Games in 1996. The USA has finished on top of the podium multiple times, including at Atlanta 1996, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012. Germany won gold at Rio 2016, while Canada are the defending Olympic champions after triumphing at Tokyo 2020.