Exclusive Q&A: USA soccer star Morgan Brian
US women's soccer star Morgan Brian has teamed up with Chobani, America's No. 1 Greek Yogurt, to be part of its #NoBadStuff campaign, which is all about working hard and being grounded in goodness and positivity -– something she embodies every day, from her determination in her sport to the food she puts in her body.
SEE MORE: Everything you need to know about the Summer Olympics
Morgan chatted with AOL.com right before the Olympics.
Q: How much fun has it been to work on this campaign?
A: It's been extremely fun and I'm extremely excited to be partnered with Chobani. It correlates with my success as a soccer player. How we handle each situation and what we put in our body .. you can only be great if you're filled with positivity. And I love Chobani yogurt too, with all the protein in it. I use it in every aspect. I have it in the morning and then after a hard lifting session, I have a smoothie with Chobani yogurt. It's versatile, so for me it's a great choice.
Q: What's your typical lunch and dinner?
A: My typical lunch is a smoothie packed with vegetables, like spinach. Or maybe a sandwich. For a snack I can do anything from a Chobani yogurt or Flipz. For dinner, it's usually chicken or some sort of meat with broccoli and a salad and maybe some pasta.
Being an athlete, it's extremely important to put protein back in your body. Whatever you're eating, it has to be delicious. It has to have natural ingredients and for it to be right amount of carbs and protein -- especially since I'm spending a lot of energy that day.
Q: Was it always your goal to be where you are today?
A: This was always my goal but I didn't think it'd happen as soon as it did. During my sophomore year of college in 2012 -- and I knew the next step was to play for the youth national team, under 23 -- I didn't expect to be invited that early and be on the team that early. I thought it'd take longer. But I've always been taught, you have to prepare and get your body right. You always have to prepare in order to give yourself best shot.
Q: What would you say is your favorite accomplishment?
A: The World Cup win over Japan was my favorite moment. After that, I would say when I was 16 I got to be a part of the under 17 first-ever World Cup in New Zealand. I learned a lot about myself and it really helped my soccer career develop. That's when I got better, playing against better players. Those were defining moments.
