Gamecocks in Paris: Representing Her Country Never Gets Old for Sabrina D'Angelo

Sabrina D’Angelo has a long list of accolades and accomplishments in her soccer career, but the former South Carolina (2011-2014) goalkeeper is looking to add Olympic gold to that list when she competes for Canada at the Olympic Games in Paris. She is one of 12 former Gamecocks competing in the 2024 Olympics. (See below)

“It doesn’t get old, and when you get the call, it’s a nice call to get,” said D’Angelo, who is making her second Olympic appearance after helping Canada earn the bronze medal at the 2016 games in Rio. She was not on the roster in 2021 when Canada took home the gold medal at the Tokyo games. “I was in the car with my partner, and to receive the call with someone special and then to call my parents after and let them know the good news was great. It’s something I’ve been working towards after not being with the team at the last Olympics. Working my way to be back with the team this year was really special.

“It’s an honor to get to wear the Canadian badge. The Olympic badge is even more special because not many people get to do it, and you know you’re representing your country. It’s a huge honor, and I have so much pride in doing so. I’m looking forward to the games of course and watching other athletes perform. There is something special about the Olympics. You’re competing with your entire country.”

Although she has been an Olympian before, there is some added prestige for her this year knowing that the defending Olympic champs will have a target on their backs.

“There’s obviously still some nerves but knowing that the team has been successful at the last three Olympics, especially at the last one and knowing that we’re trying to do the same thing, there is that added pressure to perform,” D’Angelo said. “It’s exciting. We have a great team and a lot of depth. It will be exciting to see what happens once the tournament gets started.”

Now 31 years old, she is thankful for her time under head coach Shelley Smith and associate head coach Jamie Smith at South Carolina for helping develop her game and provide great opportunities on and off the pitch.

“I was very fortunate that Jamie and Shelley wanted me,” said D’Angelo, who was a two-time First-Team All-American at South Carolina and earned numerous other honors, including SEC Defensive Player of the Year. “Just being so far away from home, that was my first experience of what it was like to be a professional. Everything that the school has there allowed me to be at my best. The support with academics. The support on and off the field. Jamie and Shelley paved the way to help me feel ready for that next step of going professional. I learned so much from them and (former goalkeeper coach) Libby Bassett. I grew so much as a person at South Carolina and as a player. They helped me mature on and off the field.”

After graduating from South Carolina in 2015 with a degree in exercise science, D’Angelo played professionally in the U.S. for four years before playing in Sweden for four years and spending the last year and a half playing for Arsenal in the U.K.

“I wouldn’t still be doing this if I wasn’t having fun,” D’Angelo said. “I love playing football, and I love being with the team. It’s the people that make playing football so much fun.”

Whenever her playing days are done, D’Angelo is considering a career in physiotherapy and also wants to find more ways to give back to the game in her hometown of Welland in Ontario.

The women’s soccer tournament at the Paris Olympics begins on Thursday, July 25.

FORMER GAMECOCKS COMPETING IN THE 2024 OLYMPICS:

BASKETBALL
A’ja Wilson (USA)
Laeticia Amihere (Canada)

GOLF 
Nanna Koerstz Madsen (Denmark)

SOCCER
Sabrina D’Angelo (Canada)

SWIMMING/DIVING
Tomas Peribonio (Ecuador)
Tatiana Salcutan (Republic of Moldova)
Julia Vincent (South Africa)

TENNIS 
Fran Cerundolo (Argentina)

TRACK & FIELD
Aliyah Abrams (Guyana/sprinter)
Anass Essayi (Morocco/distance)
Eric Favors (Ireland/shotput)
Quincy Hall (USA/sprinter)