20 Amazing Bodies of Women's World Cup Stars

From their disciplined workout regimes to holistic self-care routines, Miss Universe winners are known for their dedication to wellness and beauty. While their radiant appearances captivate audiences worldwide, the secrets behind their glow are often grounded in health, mindfulness, and self-love. Here we delve into the personal stories and unique regimens of these accomplished women. From current reigning queen R’bonney Gabriel to the trailblazing Lorraine Downes, each beauty reveals her approach to a balanced and vibrant life. Join us as we uncover the varied and inspiring journeys of these global icons.

1. R’bonney Gabriel

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Current reigning Miss Universe, R’bonney Gabriel shared some of her wellness secrets with Forbes. “I always start my day with a quick yoga session and a morning walk for cardio and hit the gym if one is available. I always look for meals that stay within my meal plan-which is oatmeal and eggs in the morning, shrimp and green beans for lunch, and salmon and asparagus for dinner. I do my best on finding meals similar to that without being too hard on myself if I am unable to stick to it. I usually allow myself to have 1-3 pieces of chocolate or caramel rice cakes in my purse to munch on anytime or anywhere.”

2. Olivia Culpo

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2012 Miss Universe, Olivia Culpo shared her skincare secrets with Byrdie. “I spend quite a bit of time at night on my skincare routine, and in the morning, I just apply an SPF. I am always trying out new products, so what I gravitate toward is often changing. At night, I usually use an oil and a serum. Right now, I love the Clarins Double Serum ($90). In the morning, I use a Vitamin C serum and an SPF, and, typically, I just rinse my skin with warm water instead of using a cleanser. It is something I swear by—it allows for the oils on my skin from sleeping to absorb naturally.”

3. Andrea Meza

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2020 Miss Universe, Andrea Meza, revealed on Instagram that she is working on living a healthier life. “It's been 6 weeks since I started a change in my life,” she wrote. “I had stopped exercising for about a year, I was weak, my body hurt constantly and I didn't feel like myself! Despite my crazy schedules, I committed to loving myself more and returning to what makes me happy. It's been 6 weeks training with @le.trainer and I'm super motivated, happy, I feel strong, I have a lot more energy and I'm going for more.”

4. Catriona Gray

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Catriona Gray won Miss Universe in 2018. She likes to eat healthy, and even cooks some of her own meals. Gray said in an interview, “I love to cook. Because you know exactly what’s going in your food. You can make it exactly how you like it.”

5. Pia Wurtzbach

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2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach makes sure to workout everyday. She tells Pep.PH, “If I can do it daily, I would. If the schedule permits, I do it every day. I try to do it in the morning, so then it's out of the way and I can continue on with my day. If not, then I'll do a few times a week, but definitely, I try to do it."

6. Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters

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2017 Miss Universe, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters likes to do a variety of workouts. She shared what she typically does in a week with Us Weekly. “My week usually goes Monday, a leg workout in the gym; Tuesday, cardio — running in the park; Wednesday, abs and arms; Thursday, I work in some type of cardio, usually a boxing class; Friday, I do a full body workout at the gym; Saturday, a run in the park and Sunday rest!”

7. Natalie Glebova

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Natalie Glebova isn’t just a former Miss Universe, she’s also a writer and blogger. In this post, Glebova shared the importance of having a routine. “During times of uncertainty, the best thing you can do is follow a routine. Why? Because having a routine in place, makes our minds feel secure and safe. We are just programmed this way. If you are finding that your sleep is not as deep or restful as it used to be, try going to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time. This is really key! Sleep experts agree that you must implement a strict sleep/wake rhythm.”

8. Jennifer Hawkins

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2004 Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins opened up about her diet to 9Honey. She says that she follows the 80/20 rule. “I just can't [eat healthily] all the time. It's so boring.” Hawkins also shared some of her favorite foods. "I eat a lot more fats now. I love eating coconut oil, olive oil, even butter. I have eggs, fried eggs. I have a lot of olive oil on that … I'll cook some spinach and put butter all over that, with salt and avocado.”

9. Harnaaz Sandhu

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In an interview with The Indian Express, Harnaaz Sandhu talked about her struggles with her weight and confidence. “I was bullied for gaining weight. It was kind of uncomfortable and really surprising for me to see how people started having their opinions, which should not really matter. It’s not about how you look, it’s about who you are from inside and how you treat people and what you believe in.”

10. Iris Mittenaere

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2016 Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere talked about her workouts in an interview with People. She says that she exercises regularly, even when she’s on the road. “When I travel, I try to work out before I go to bed,” she says. “I’ll do 10 minutes of abs one day and 10 minutes of butt the next day. There’s a lot of videos on YouTube, and I use 10 minutes to do one part of my body.”

11. Zozibini Tunzi

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2019 Miss Universe, Zozibini Tunzi likes to do Pilates to keep herself in shape. She shared this photo on Instagram of herself taking her first class. Tunzi captioned it, "This morning was so much fun! Feeling a little jetlagged, I went for a @pilateson7th class for a little rejuvenation. I did not expect Pilates to be so challenging, but so much fun!”

12. Leila Lopes

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Leila Lopes won Miss Universe in 2011. She revealed in the caption of this Instagram post that she works with a nutritionist and her approach to eating. “Thanks to my nutritionist @claramonteironutricionista for helping me keep in shape the best way possible.

Today I can say I don't diet, but I do choices. And I choose to eat healthy!!! Thank you for accompanying me to attend me at any time of the day. Thank you for teaching me to eat right because the benefits of my good diet are reflected not only in my shape but also in my hair and skin.”

13. Lara Dutta

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In addition to being Miss Universe 2000, Lara Dutta is also an actress. She shared her wellness secrets in an interview with Vogue. “There are no shortcuts to a healthy life! You have to work at it, you have to enjoy it. For me, fitness is just one part of wellness—I find that to be a more holistic way to describe how I lead my life. Fitness is about a fit body, how you look and of course it improves your health. Wellness goes beyond this and is also about how you ‘feel' and how you think.”

14. Paulina Vega

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Paulina Vega works with trainer Juan Cubaque to help her stay in shape. Specifically, he helped her prep for the Miss Universe pageant. Cubaque opened up about Vega’s training process in an interview with Caracol television. "The preparation was a double day's work. One day of exercises in the morning and another at night, for 5 days a week. You can imagine the discipline and effort.”

15. Gabriela Isler

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Gabriela Isler has her own blog, where she talks about her life and wellness secrets. In this post, she wrote about dealing with negativity. “It is too exhausting to try to please the entire world, oh no! That paralyzes you, you lose your life trying to answer their questions; changing your plans and ideas so that others applaud them; wanting to live up to their expectations without being honest with your own; demanding you give answers that very few deserve; torturing yourself every night thinking that you are not enough, or that your talent and abilities have no value or space to shine in the eyes of others, etc.”

16. Ximena Navarrete

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Ximena Navarrete shared her skincare routine in an interview with Glamour. “It is important to be well hydrated, use sunscreen, remove makeup before going to sleep and of course have a product that is reliable and brings out the best in my skin. In my case, since I tried SENS by VIVRI, I won't change it for anything! It is essential for any woman to have a great ally who leaves her skin beautiful, healthy and young.”

17. Stefania Fernandez

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Stefania Fernandez opened up about her wellness routine after having her first child on Instagram. “I have been looking for moments of 20 minutes – 45 minutes to dedicate to my body, soul and spirit for two months – and I am grateful to get those spaces and draw strength sometimes where I don't have them, because as you know, my baby will soon be 4 months old. and even the late nights are hard. Every sacrifice is worth it. I am a faithful believer that a full mind, body and spirit also translates into giving the best to my baby, and if I give the best everything translates to a happy baby.”

18. Zuleyka Rivera

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Zuleyka Rivera won Miss Universe in 2006. She shared some of her beauty secrets in an interview. Rivera says that she’s all about self-love. "The most important thing is to love yourself, to have a fairly high self-esteem, to be able to look in the mirror and say 'I'm so happy with the person I am.’”

19. Sushmita Sen

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Sushmita Sen works with trainer Nupur Shikhare to help her stay in shape. Shikhare talked about working with Sen to Vogue. “What really characterises Sushmita Sen is her drive and enthusiasm for trying out new things. She is extremely clued into the latest workouts and I constantly have her coming up with new innovations that she'd like to incorporate into her regimen. She spends hours researching new techniques in minute detail, and often breaks them down and tries them out on her own to figure out how they work for her/”

20. Lorraine Downes

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In an interview with The New Zealand Herald, Lorraine Downes opened up about her self-care after losing her partner. “I choose to be happy, I choose to have joy in my life, I choose to find joy in my life…I believe that when you do that and you’re having that mindset, you will find it. That’s what I want, so I can keep enjoying life.”

For most professional athletes, diet, and exercise are part of the job. Performing well on the court, course, field, or in the gym, poo, or ring, requires a dedication to healthy living, discipline, and nutrition. Even after their professional careers are over, female athletes keep doing the things they love to stay in shape. Here are 20 amazing bodies of female athletes over 40 and all of their top health, wellness, and diet secrets.

1. Serena Williams

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Serena Williams is one of the most body-confident athletes. "My philosophy is eat to live. Don't live to eat,” Serena William revealed to Women's Health. "You need it to survive. And [that's] very hard to live by, cause I definitely love to snack, but this is what I want. These are my goals."

2. Venus Williams

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Venus Williams is all about a plant-based lifestyle and even launched her own vegan protein brand, Happy Viking, in 2020. "I need to refuel and provide protein to my muscles quickly after I work out for recovery and to maintain muscle," she told Insider in 2021. "So Happy Viking was created to fuel your inner fighter, your inner Viking, while feeling happy and satisfied about what you put in your body."

3. Danica Patrick

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Danica, 41, doesn’t pick and choose when she is going to be healthy. "What I'm hoping is that people realize that this is a lifestyle," she said during an appearance on Good Morning America. "I want them to develop a good relationship with food and exercise to not be a reward or punishment but a way of life and something that makes you feel good and something that makes you a better you every single day." One of her health habits is eating paleo, she revealed on her website. "Paleo is based on the idea that you only eat foods that were available to ancient man before the invention of agriculture. So no grains, no dairy, no beans or legumes, no added sugars or preservatives. Instead, you focus on naturally raised meats, vegetables, fruits, and nuts," she said. "My intention was to only do it for a week or two to reset my body with less sugar and more veggies. Well . . . I felt so good, and saw such amazing results, that I never quit."

4. Torrie Wilson

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Former WWE star Torrie Wilson is all about the 80/20 method of eating. “I go for the 80% rule of healthy. I’m now more focused on eating whole, natural foods that have a lot of nutrients to help me feel good from the inside out. I’m anti-strict eating because of competing and being anorexic,” she said.

5. Gabrielle Reece

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Gabrielle Reece revealed to Parade that she bounces between high intensity interval workouts (HIIT) and underwater circuits. “I try to create a little bit of structure. Monday, Wednesday and Friday I typically will do some kind of HIIT, high intensity mixed bag of exercises that I change each time. It's about 60 minutes of work, a little bit less. I write the workouts, a mix of resistance, strength and dumbbells,” she said. “After I workout, I try to do a breathing routine that's about 15 to 20 minutes, to start the recovery process and down-regulating. It’s really important that even if we're sitting at our desk or driving in our car, that we're nose breathing as often as we possibly can. That's a really important health idea. So my routine involves a lot of nose breathing and oxygenating the tissues and the cells. That’s Monday, Wednesday, Friday if the schedule permits in a perfect world.”

6. Dara Torres

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Dara Torres suffered from an eating disorder in college that left her with a “fear” of foods. “And so my philosophy is to eat healthy, but if you have a craving for something, don't deprive yourself; just have a little bit of it to help with the craving that you have. My philosophy is that if you are keeping yourself from eating certain things and not having what you want, you're gonna want it more than you should. So that's the biggest thing with me with diet. I try to eat my proteins every day and my fruits and vegetables. But I do have a sweet tooth. I can't deny that. For some reason it gets worse when I travel. I'm out to dinner and I see someone having chocolate cake, I’ll ask for a piece, take a couple of bites, and then let everyone else have it. I just can't cut out certain foods completely and be that restrictive after what I went through in college. I try to eat little meals throughout the entire day. So I always make sure that if I get hungry or need snacks, I will have macadamia nuts or avocados. I just try to eat healthy stuff but I’m not a saint. That's for sure!” she told Parade.

7. Summer Sanders

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Summer Sanders maintains that eating a healthy breakfast every morning is her healthiest habit “I never miss breakfast. As a busy mom, there will be days when I'm cruisin' along and I'll look at the clock and I haven't eaten lunch. And I'll run downstairs and I'll start shovelin' stuff down the pie hole, and I'll think, "That was no lunch at all." But breakfast has sort of turned into the new dinner, where you can sit down with your family and have a conversation. And my kids talk at breakfast. We talk about our dreams, talk about our nights' sleep, talk about what we wanna do today and be positive,” she told Self.

8. Kristin Armstrong

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Kristin Armstrong is still a runner. “I probably run five days a week; I go to the gym for strength training twice a week; and I try to do yoga twice a week. How far I run depends on what I'm training for. If I'm doing marathon training, then my long runs on Saturdays will escalate depending on what part of my program I'm at. During a regular week, I run 3 to 10 miles per day, and I bump it up on the weekends,” she told Self.

9. Jo Pavey

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Jo Pavey fuels her body with food. "When you're running you need to make sure you are getting a decent amount of carbohydrate in order to fuel yourself. I do give myself a cheat day - I mean pizza is a great carbohydrate and you can always put healthy toppings on it. It's all about balance and just generally I've found having that balance in life does me a lot of good,” she told The Sun.

10. Zara Phillips

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Zara Phillips avoids two things. “I don’t diet but I try to eat well and not to eat too many carbohydrates or sugary things. Lunch is quick and simple, like soup and a sandwich or eggs and toast," she told the Sunday Times Magazine.

11. Oksana Chusovitina

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At 41, Oksana Chusovitina was the oldest gymnast to compete at the Olympics. When asked what motivated her to return to elite competition after having a child, she didn’t hesitate to respond. "There was no motivation. I stepped into the gym to work out a little bit, to get my body back in shape."

12. Lisa Leslie

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Lisa Leslie revealed to ESPNW that hse has a daily toothbrush workout routine which includes squats and leg lifts. “My favorite workout involves an electric toothbrush and whole lot of squats. If you get an electric toothbrush it usually runs for two minutes [and] you do four quadrants of your mouth. While at the same time, you can do your squats. So I do my squats probably for a minute, which gets me about 50 squats in a minute and then I do leg lifts and raises for the other minute. That pretty much gets my teeth cleaned and my butt toned,” she said.

13. Chemmy Alcott

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In an interview with Hello! magazine, former Olympic skier Chemmy Alcott was inspired to lose weigh after having children. "I looked in the mirror and I wasn’t comfortable with who I was," she said. "I didn’t know who was looking back at me. I had been a professional athlete for 20 years, then I became a mum and I lost who I was. I wanted to find myself again and be confident in myself as a woman and mother." She added that she hired a personal trainer, her friend Sarah Lindsay and embarked on a 12-week body program.

14. Annika Sorenstam

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Annika Sorenstam maintains a health diet. She drinks water and tea, stays away from fried food, and rarely has juice. “We eat three meals a day, in reasonable portions, and we live active lifestyles. In the evening, we’ll grill a simple chicken or fish, steam broccoli to go with it, maybe sauté some mushrooms. We don’t buy any of it ready-made because you don’t know what salt and preservatives are in those foods,” she told Edible Orlando. “I don’t believe in light diet foods,” she says. “My husband and I enjoy food very much. Often he’ll hang out while I cook, we’ll share a bottle of wine and dine at home. It’s more comfortable than going to a restaurant.”

15. Anna Kournikova

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Anna Kournikova has a no-frills approach to exercise. "I grew up in the Soviet Union in the eighties and nineties. We didn't have gyms, let alone a treadmill. We worked with what we had; you can too. All you need are sneakers and a sports bra to go running. Or try jumping rope for 10 minutes—it's a great workout!" she told Glamour. "Exercise gives us energy and confidence, so why cut corners? It's easier to incorporate it into your life and feel good now, rather than put it off and feel guilty about it a year from now."

16. Steffi Graff

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Steffi Graff stays active. “I am generally a very energetic person. I like to be in motion, I like to act. I still try to start the day with a 45-minute workout – running, yoga, exercise – because after it my head seems to clear up, I feel not only physical vigor, but also amazing mental clarity. I’m ready for a new day. Daily challenges are very important. And not only in terms of sports,” she said in an interview.

17. Lindsay Davenport

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Lindsay Davenport has spent up to 10 to 15 hours doing hitting and stroke drills, plus three hours of free weights, the occasional Pilates class ("depending on how stiff I am"), and two sessions of footwork and plyometrics (high-impact drills), she revealed to Marie Claire.

18. Natalya Neidhart

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Natalya is all about workout buddies. “I’m guilty as anyone of procrastinating when I don’t have a set schedule to follow. For me, I need accountability, which is why I grab a partner. My mom, sister, friends, my husband, heck even my cat have all joined me for some pretty awesome workouts! When you have a partner and your sweat session is like an appointment you have to ‘show up for,’ you won’t miss a workout! These are tools I use to keep me on track, when life sometimes life feels ‘out of our hands,’” she told Calgary Sun.

19. Marion Reneau

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UFC fighter Marion Reneau wakes up early, eats breakfast and does a morning one-on-one session with her coach. Then she spends an hour with her strength and conditioning coach, and drives home for lunch and takes a two hour break. Then, she goes on a three-mile run, followed by Jiu-Jitsu, grappling and wrestling, with her husband. "I'm still active," she told Visalia Times Delta.

20. Natalie Gulbis

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Natalie Gulbis consumes a high protein diet. “My diet six days a week consists of protein shakes with whey protein, healthy fats, greens and probiotics for breakfast and lunch. I have protein bars as snacks in between. For dinner I usually have fish or steak with steamed veggies. When I am home and not on tour I sit down for lunch. Usually chicken with salad dressing on the side. I allow myself 200-300 calories of a treat a day. A Michelob ultra, glass of wine, chocolate etc. On Sundays after the tournament I have a cheat meal and eat whatever I may have been craving. I like consistency and protein keeps my energy up and my body feeling good,” she told Women Fitness.

In the world of sports, the ESPY Awards stand as a testament to the incredible achievements of athletes who continue to push the boundaries of physical excellence. Among these remarkable individuals are the female ESPY Award winners, whose bodies are finely tuned instruments of athleticism and strength. In this article, we delve into the fitness, wellness, and training secrets of 15 exceptional women who have earned the coveted ESPY accolades.

1. Mikaela Shifrin

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Mikaela Shifrin won Best Athlete, Women’s Sports, this year. She revealed some of her favorite workouts on Instagram. Shifrin enjoys doing Pilates. “This is just straight up nourishment for the whole body,” she explained in the caption. “It’s a serious combo of a lot of core, upper body, hip, leg strength and active mobility. My sessions range from more recovery focused to a very intense core work, but it really can be targeted for your specific needs. It’s been a godsend for me over the last few years.”

2. A’ja Wilson

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A’ja Wilson won the 2023 Best WNBA Award. She shared some of her wellness secrets with Bustle. In it, Wilson revealed her hydration secrets. “I don’t carry a water bottle around, but I do drink a lot of water. I hydrate myself with Ladder, an electrolyte packet that you can mix in. Sometimes I get tired of just straight water when I’m rehydrating on the bench during a game, so I’ll add that for some flavor.”

3. Claressa Shields

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Claressa Shields won Best Boxer at this year’s awards. She shared her training routine and secrets with Muscle and Fitness. “I make myself get up early in the morning to do my cardio. My coaches [at Jackson Wink] right now are showing me a lot of new techniques, which my body still needs to be conditioned to do. I’ll work on wrestling drills for about 45 minutes, then learn how to fight off the cage and against it, also learn how to take somebody down when they’re trying to resist.”

4. Katie Ledecky

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Katie Ledecky walked away with two awards at last year’s ESPY’s: Best Athlete, Women’s Sports, and Best Olympian, Women’s Sports. She shared her diet secrets with E! News. “I keep it pretty consistent. The only day that I don't train is Sundays, so even right now when I'm taking a little bit of time off, I'm trying to stick to a pretty regular routine. So oatmeal for breakfast, some sort of egg sandwich for lunch, or eggs with toast and then dinner is what varies the most but it is either carbs or some sort of protein: chicken, steak, salmon, something along those lines.”

5. Megan Rapinoe

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Megan Rapinoe won Best Play at last year’s awards, and the Arthur Ashe Courage Award with her teammates this year. She shared some of her fitness secrets with Bustle. “Weight training is really big for me. Obviously, I run a lot playing soccer, but I also make sure that I strength train and pay attention to how everything’s working in my body, especially as I get older. I love Pilates, which is amazing for that. I feel like it strengthens you from the inside out. Rest is also really important. It’s how I get the maximum out of my workouts and how I make sure my body's recovering.”

6. Ashley Hatch

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Ashley Hatch won the Best NWSL Player award in 2022. She revealed to The Washington Post that she makes sure to not succumb to pressure during games. “When my mind’s right, sometimes even if I’m not feeling physically my best. I feel like I can push through hard times, and I can play even better.” Hatch says that she does breathing and confidence building exercises.

7. Candace Parker

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Candace Parker won the 2022 award for Best WNBA Player. She shared how she’s changing up her approach on the court to SB Nation. “I think simplicity has always been difficult for me. I think physically because you know, I’ve been versatile and have played multiple positions. I think simplicity was always, you know, me dribbling and me doing this and whatever. And now I’ve just learned that simplicity is key, doing things with the least amount of motion is going to benefit me greatly. So I think that is the biggest thing to me is just yes, I can dribble and do that, but it’s more beneficial for me to be able to do it with less motion.”

8. Nelly Korda

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Nelly Korda won the 2022 Best Female Golfer Award. She shared how she warms up for a game to Golf Digest. “It’s more that I’m working on my strike out there. It’s about finding my timing. I typically start about an hour and five minutes before my tee time. I want to make sure my body and muscles are loose. I start off with pitch shots on the range and then I work my way all the way up through my bag.”

9. Crystal Dunn

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Crystal Dunn won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award with her US Women’s Soccer teammates this year. In an interview with POPSugar, Dunn talked about how she approaches the sport, after being cut from the 2015 World Cup. "I was so uptight about everything. I'm a totally different player than I was four years ago. I take things as they come now. I try not to take everything so seriously, so harshly."

10. Aubrey Kingsbury

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Aubrey Kingsbury was another recipient of this year’s Arthur Ashe Courage Award. She likes to spend time outside, and specifically enjoys going hiking. Kingsbury posted this set of photos on Instagram of herself hiking in North Island, New Zealand. She captioned the post, “NZ, thanks for an epic adventure.”

11. Alex Morgan

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Alex Morgan has won several ESPY’s, including this year’s Arthur Ashe Courage Award. She talked about how her diet has evolved to Insider. "I have a really good relationship with my body and understanding what it needs and nourishing it in the right way," Morgan said. "That comes with years of experience, but you have to start somewhere, and I think a lot of female athletes aren't given that support early in their career."

12. Casey Krueger

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Casey Krueger also won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award this year. In an essay with NWSLsoccer.com, she talked about her journey to becoming a mother and returning to soccer. “After my three-month moratorium on vacuuming and running ended, it was time to get back on my grind,” Krueger said. “I was still far from where I needed to be to rejoin the Red Stars, so I trained on my own until I was ready. I practiced with a local boys’ club team, played pickup with some of my teammates, and did double days designed by my trainer — but some of my most cherished memories from that time were when I’d workout in the basement of our home. I’d bring Caleb down there with me and let him hangout in his baby bouncer while I focused on getting my strength back. Watching him watch me as I sweated through reps was the greatest motivation I could have asked for, a living, breathing reminder that after everything I’d gone through, and for all the love I didn’t even know I was capable of giving to him, I had everything I needed to get to where I wanted to be. I could do this.”

13. Sam Kerr

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Footballer Sam Kerr won Best International Athlete, Women’s Soccer in 2022. In her book, she talked about how she approaches games. “I try to shift my focus to the task at hand – that one match or that one training session or that one goal – and stay focused on it. Staying in the present and focusing on that one thing isn’t easy, but it definitely helps. I just have to believe in what I’m doing and try to ignore any distracting, negative or outside factors that start to creep in. Using this mental tool to maintain this kind of attitude is a big factor in winning for me. I truly believe that.”

14. Lauren Holiday

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Former soccer player, Lauren Holiday, and her husband, NBA player Jrue Holiday, won the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award this year. She shared why she retired from her sport to ActiveKids.com. “As much as I love playing the sport of soccer, I also know that it's not my identity. I know that I was called to do other things and I'm not the type of person that can focus on multiple things at once. When I'm in soccer, I'm so focused on it that I feel guilty if I go a day without working out or trying to better my game. For me, it just came to the point that I wanted to do other things and I was ready. I've accomplished all that I wanted in soccer.”

15. Christen Press

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Christen Press helped accept this year’s Arthur Ashe Courage Award on behalf of the US Women’s Soccer Team. She shared how she prevents injuries in an interview with ESPN. "I haven't had many injuries and I know that's because I take care of my body and I do the things that I need to do to keep it strong. And I'm very grateful for the way that I feel when I play. I feel very powerful. I feel fast. I feel unstoppable and that's because of my body."

The FIFA Women's World Cup has once again captured the world's attention as these phenomenal athletes showcase their extraordinary skills on the global stage. Beyond their remarkable talents, the tournament also highlights the dedication and hard work these players invest in maintaining their peak physical condition. From disciplined diets to rigorous training routines, these women exemplify the epitome of athleticism and commitment. Here we delve into the health and fitness regimens of 20 remarkable stars, each of whom brings a unique approach to staying at the top of their game. As the competition unfolds from July 20 to August 20, join us in celebrating the inspiring bodies of the FIFA Women's World Cup stars.

1. Kristie Mewis

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Kristie Mewis talked about the impact women’s soccer has on her to Sixstarpro.com. “I was probably getting the benefits from it when I didn't realize it because I was only 10 or 11 years old when it first started happening. I was too young to truly understand what it meant, but I think it probably first started impacting me when I was going to youth national team camps when I went to College. That's truly when I first started feeling that this means something, like I'm going somewhere with this, I can make this a career. Whereas I think of my mom at my age, they didn't really feel the same support that I felt. I always had this dream of being a professional athlete, and it was able to happen because of all of the women before me and because of Title IX.”

2. Megan Rapinoe

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Megan Rapinoe makes sure to eat healthy. She shared her diet and her approach to eating in an interview with Well + Good. "Overall, my philosophy is just to put good things in my body. I don't really eat anything artificial, fake, or that I can't pronounce. I try to keep it simple and clean."

3. Julie Ertz

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Julie Ertz shared how she trains for games in an interview with SELF. She says that she does a lot of weight training, and also makes sure to target every muscle she can. “It's really important to hit the big muscles, but a lot of people forget the smaller muscles, which are just as important, especially in such a multidimensional sport where you are running up and down in every direction,” she explained.

4. Mallory Swanson

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Mallory Swanson wants to inspire others, particularly her younger teammates. "Trying to be there for them is always important because whether it's their first or second year in the league, it's stressful and it's completely different," she tells People. "It's a new city probably for most of them, the game itself is probably way faster. The way things are ran, it's completely different. So trying to be there for them and help them through any of that is always important."

5. Alex Morgan

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Alex Morgan shared her tips for staying on her vegan diet to The Beet. “There are times when I may find myself eating something that has eggs in it or dairy. Sometimes that slips into my diet and I am trying to eat healthy and plant-based but when that happens I tell myself to give myself some grace. So if you are trying to live healthily and vegan, you can forgive yourself. That's what I mean by giving yourself grace.”

6. Ella Toone

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Ella Toone talked about her approach to playing in an interview with Forbes. "Well I think my game is ultimately about getting in the pockets and finding space and getting on the half-turn. I think I did that well on my debut for England. I think with my club, that's something that I work on massively, and the likes of Tobin and Christen always help. They give me little bits of advice that will help me and I've learned a lot from them. So yeah, it's just about me keeping working hard and keep getting in those little pockets of space and trying to make things happen on the pitch."

7. Emily Sonnett

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Emily Sonnett took UsSoccer.com through a day at her training camp. “We don't often lift heavy weight, but we do get a lot of reps in. We've also did a lot of testing at the beginning of camp to measure our range of motion, agility, flexibility, etc. We really appreciate having that kind of feedback because of course we want to do everything that can help us win, always.”

8. Alyssa Naeher

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Alyssa Naeher talked about how she gets through tough times in an interview with The Los Angeles Times. “Lean on your teammates. Lean on your family. Just focus on what you want. For me it was showing up every day and controlling all the things that I could control. And that was being a good teammate.”

9. Sam Kerr

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Sam Kerr shared her tips for having a healthy body and mind to Body + Soul. “Having a routine and creating structure. I find this helps me so much, especially in difficult times. I get up, have a coffee, have breakfast and train. My advice to others is to start the day knowing what you want to achieve, get moving and get it done.”

10. Ellie Carpenter

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Ellie Carpenter doesn’t let haters or hecklers bother her. In fact, she’s motivated by them. Carpenter talked to The Guardian about a time when the opposing team’s coach was yelling at her when she was 16. “It kind of just made me play better, to be honest,” she says. “It motivated me more – I just wanted to shut him up. Like ‘OK, you want to bad mouth me, try to get in my head?’ It worked, but not in the way he had obviously hoped.”

11. Kyah Simon

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Kyah Simon notably had to have ankle-reconstruction surgery in the 2019 season. She opened up about her recovery process in an interview with MyFootball.com. Simon notably changed her diet, and thinks that this has helped her prevent injuries. “I’ve pretty much cut out gluten and dairy,” she said. “I am intolerant to gluten, but I didn’t know that until I got tested at the start of last year. Half of my injuries are caused by inflammation and when you think that your body is intolerant to a certain food, that is causing extra inflammation in your body.”

12. Bunny Shaw

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Bunny Shaw always tries to help her teammates on the field, and for her, that doesn’t always mean being the one with the ball. She tells The Athletic, “It’s not always about scoring and assisting. You can also make an impact in terms of fighting to win a ball or slide-tackling, always staying active and reliable, and being there for your team-mates.”

13. Hayley Raso

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Hayley Raso opened up about how she recovered from a back injury to Vogue. “It’s training every day, it’s recovering right, it’s making sure your body is fuelled with the right foods so you can train and perform at your peak.” Raso says that she made sure to set goals. “Even on those bad days you know you’re working towards something that’s going to be so big and so special.”

14. Steph Catley

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Aussie football player, Steph Catley, is open about advocating for women in sports. She talked about this in an interview with Mamamia.com. “I've been involved in so many fights throughout my career, where we've been asking for equality, and we've been asking for better standards, and to see that now young girls won't have to worry about the things that we had to worry about is amazing. It makes me very proud to watch young girls step into football teams, and be appreciated and paid as they should be. And have the standards and equipment that we didn't have growing up. It's very exciting. And I know it's gonna keep growing and growing, too.”

15. Larissa Crummer

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Larissa Crummer opened up about recovering from an injury that nearly cost her her leg in an interview with Bardown.com. "I train in Brisbane four times a week; it's an hour-and-a-half commute to get to training so a three-hour round trip," she said. "If I have [to go to the] gym I wake up at 4 a.m. and do it before I go to work, then do a full day's work labouring, knock off about 3 p.m. and head down to training."

16. Andi Sullivan

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Andi Sullivan opened up about her approach to thinking to The Players Tribune. “What I say now might be different than how I feel in an hour, but honestly in the grand scheme of things, I’m healthy, I’m safe. So all in all I’m doing pretty well, and I feel like I’m doing my part to not spread things. In the not-so-grand scheme of things, it’s tough. I’m jealous of all the people who are with their families. Also, I think being an athlete you’re not used to downtime. It’s just a weird, nebulous space.”

17. Lindsey Horan

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Lindsey Horan opened up about her approach to fitness to Tonal.com. She says that it plays a bigger role in her life now. “Fitness was never the main component in my game when I was younger,” she says. “I wish it was. I wish I knew what I know now. I wish I knew everything that goes into fitness because it’s not just running. It’s not just kicking the ball and chasing it.”

18. Lynn Williams

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Lynn Williams opened up about being labeled an “underdog” to JustWomensSports.com. “In the past, people really got annoyed with us, saying ‘you guys are clearly not the underdogs,’ but I always think that it’s not necessarily about your performance or your results. It’s an attitude… an underdog attitude is somebody who’s always going to fight no matter how much success they’re having.”

19. Kelley O’Hara

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When she’s training, Kelley O’Hara tells ESPN that she likes to eat oatmeal for breakfast. “We have practice every day at 10 a.m. and I feel like this meal helps fuel me to make it through practice,” she explains. “For me, it's a delicious comfort food. It doesn't upset my stomach in any way. It's an easy meal to exercise off. For some reason, it's what's best for my body. I feel great after eating it.”

20. Rose Lavelle

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In addition to prioritizing her training, Rose Lavelle also prioritizes her recovery. She takes Well + Good through a typical rest day. Lavelle says that she likes to do a lighter workout, like a walk, to get some physical activity in. “I like to get my legs moving in some way cause being a blob the whole day doesn’t make me feel great. The goal is to just get my heart rate going and activate my muscles for the rest of the day.”