Lioness Beth Mead on how losing her mum makes her appreciate every moment on the pitch
ok.co.ukShe became a household name as top scorer and player of the tournament in England’s historic UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 triumph.
Now, nearly two years on, Lioness Beth Mead admits she still can’t quite believe her new-found fame – or the attention she receives. “I still find it weird when people recognise me,” says Beth, 28, who was also named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2022 and received an MBE from the Prince of Wales in last year’s New Year Honours. “Sometimes I’m taking my dog for a walk and someone will come up for a picture and it’s just strange to me.” But although her goals took England to dizzying new heights, Beth, who plays as a forward for Arsenal in the Women’s Super League, has endured her share of tough times since.
Four months after the Lionesses’ Euro victory, she suffered a rupture in her knee that left her on the sidelines for 11 months, causing her to miss the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
By a strange coincidence, her girlfriend and fellow Arsenal player Vivianne Miedema was out of action with a near-identical injury at the same time.
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