Ellen White had to end her football career.
Now the gold medalist at the European Championships is opening up about why.
My lung was pierced, White tells the BBC.
When England returned an EC gold medal on home soil, Eileen White was one of the key figures. A week ago, the 33-year-old striker announced that she would be ending her football career.
“This has been one of the hardest decisions of my life, but I know it’s the right one. I’ve always wanted to quit on my own terms and now it’s my turn to say goodbye to football,” White wrote on Instagram.
One lung was punctured
Now the EC champion has revealed one of the reasons why she stopped playing football.
White told the BBC she had a punctured lung last year due to acupuncture treatment. The treatment was performed by a specialist hired by her club, Manchester City, to alleviate White’s back problems.
– I had a challenging time last year. When I got back from the Olympics, I had a hole in my lung, and it took me to pass a lot, she told the BBC.
It increased my desire to finish my career.
“It’s important for me to say”
The injury left White easily short of breath, and she was unable to train for some time.
– It was a really painful time for me and it’s something I keep thinking about. It is important for me to tell my story. I don’t want that to happen to anyone else again and I don’t want to quit the sport without telling you, she says.
Today, White has recovered from the injury, but says she still has phantom pains. The striker scored 52 goals in 113 matches with the England national team.
