Katrina Gorry is preparing to take her talents abroad as the inspiring mother and footballer eyes the 2023 Women’s World Cup, with the Brisbane Roar star revelling she has a contract “sitting in her room”.
Gorry has been in inspirational form for Brisbane in the 2021-22 Liberty A-League season, having only given birth to first child Harper in August.
The 78-time Australia international, who has been juggling life as a mother and footballer, made the tough decision to opt against accepting the Matildas’ call for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup in India.
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Gorry, though, remains committed to representing the green and gold during next year’s showpiece tournament, which will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
“The 2023 World Cup is where I want to be, so for me it’s all about getting as much game time as I possibly can. It’s going to be tough, but I’ll head overseas after the season,” Gorry, who has played for Ottawa Fury, FC Kansas City, Vegalta Sendai, Utah Royals FC and Avaldsnes abroad, told the Official A-Leagues Podcast.
“I haven’t signed a contract yet but there’s one sitting in my room waiting to be signed. Keep on training and playing, hopefully get the next callup into the next national team.”
Though Gorry declined Tony Gustavsson’s callup, the international request did come as a surprise to the 29-year-old, so soon after becoming a mother.
“When I returned to football, I didn’t really want to put any expectation or pressure on myself,” the 2014 AFC Women’s Player of the Year said.
“I really wanted to enjoy football again. Pregnancy gave me an opportunity to miss it and to fall back in love with it.
“For me it was about playing games and enjoying it again.
“It’s really showed on my return. I was excited by the callup and I didn’t realise it would be so soon. I was super proud after everything that’s happened.”
On her decision around the Asian Cup, she explained: “There was a small chance that she could get sick, and I wasn’t willing to take that risk if she did.
“It was a hard decision because I did really want to be back in with the team but definitely the right one.
Since I’ve returned to football I’ve been in touch with the physios, the doctors and Tony himself. He has been super supportive of getting me back into camps and getting me back into international level.
The birth of her first child has provided a different perspective for Gorry, who is enjoying the best of both worlds.
“Juggling motherhood, training and packing bags for the two of us, it gets hard. I’ve been pretty lucky with the sleep side of things too,” Gorry added.
“That’s how I’ve been able to recover so quickly after having her. My body had a chance to recover through sleep and nutrition. Times are hard sometimes but I look at her and it makes it easier. She is pretty special… It’s all positives.”
“Having her here now, it makes me wonder why I didn’t do it sooner. She has brought so much happiness and fulfilment. She’s changed my perspective on life and football. Football isn’t my life anymore, it’s about her.
“I get two hours of me time to train and enjoy what I’m doing, then I get to get off the field and be a mum. I’m living the best of both worlds.”
