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Sydney Leroux comes home to Vancouver and leaves a World Cup champion

Sydney Leroux, United States (Rich Lam/Getty Images)
Sydney Leroux, United States (Rich Lam/Getty Images)

VANCOUVER – Even if the majority of the fans at B.C. Place were rooting for the United States to win Women's World Cup final on Sunday, Sydney Leroux is the only American player that can truly say she won the World Cup at home.

Leroux, 25, was born in Surrey, B.C., about 35 kilometres away from where she lifted the trophy alongside her victorious U.S. teammates after a resounding 5-2 victory over Japan.

She saw action in four of the U.S.'s seven games at the tournament, including a stoppage time appearance in the semifinal win against Germany, but did not play in the final.

"I could not be happier," said an emotional Leroux after the game. "I know I didn't get the minutes but it took 23 of us. I couldn't stop crying because it's something I gave up a long time ago and it has been a hard road."

Just like her first time in Vancouver for the U.S.'s final group stage game against Nigeria, when she received a largely positive reception from another pro-USA crowd, Leroux had many family members and friends in attendance on Sunday. After the final whistle sounded she was able to spend a few special minutes with her mom Sandi, who played for Canada's national softball team in the late-80s.

"I hugged my mom and she said that we did it, we made it," said Leroux. "Growing up where I grew up and how I grew up and now being a world champion, there's no better feeling."

The vitriol directed toward her way in the past by jilted Canadian fans was the furthest thing from her mind. She had represented Canada at the U-19 level as a 14-year-old but was eligible to suit up for the Americans through her dad, Ray Chadwick, a baseball pitcher who briefly played in the majors. She left for the U.S. when she was 15, officially made the switch to their program in 2008, and has never looked back. Leroux has repeatedly stated that representing the U.S. was her lifelong dream.

"No matter what, I know my decision was right," said Leroux. "Canada Soccer has moved so much further than when I was a child and when I made the choice to leave. I will never go back on that decision. I made that decision when I was really young and I knew that I wanted to be part of this team. I wanted to play on the best team in the world and we proved that today."

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Yahoo Canada Sports. Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr