When Kendra Scalia-Carrow discovered the Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program’s (BORP) Power Soccer group in 2006, she had no interest in joining the team. The 28-year-old, who suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy, had never played a sport. But as soon as she kicked the ball, she was hooked.

In 2009, Scalia-Carrow, an Americans with Disabilities Act program analyst for the city of Oakland, decided to try out for the U.S. National Power Soccer team. Despite having only played the sport for three years, Scalia-Carrow was chosen as one of only eight players on the starting roster at the 2011 FIFPA World Cup in Paris. And, Scalia-Carrow, who only a few years before had never imagined herself on an athletic field, would leave France with a gold medal in a sport.

She continues to compete for the BORP Bay Earthquakes while also serving as the head coach of the BORP Bombers.