The highs and lows. The sweat and tears. Athletes share the moments that marked the year.
Danelle Tan, 19
Football
The words “BVB-FRAUEN” stood out stark against a sea of heads. Holding the scarf up proudly, both my parents were supporting me in my debut at BVB Frauen’s home stadium, the Rote Erde Stadion, against SV Hohenlimburg 1910.
This stadium is so rooted in history, it’s where the Borussia Dortmund men’s team had previously won three German league titles. And where I hope to write some of my own history with the club.
The whistle blew and we quickly took control of the game and went 1-0 up in the second minute. Not long after, my teammate Mia (Macarena Bedarf) put me through on goal and I finished with a ball rocketing to the roof of the net. My second was a powerful header from a corner. I assisted Mandy (Reinhardt), our striker, to make it 4-0 and then completed my hat-trick curling a loose ball into the bottom right corner.
Running to the stands right after the game, I spot the “BVB-FRAUEN” scarf. Scoring hat-tricks are always special but with my parents in the stands and this being the long-awaited first match (11-0 win) at the Rote Erde Stadion for Borussia Dortmund, it felt like a foreshadowing of good things to come.
