While Sydney Leroux Dwyer was born in Canada, she was also born to a Canadian mother and American father. Thus, she elected to represent the United States Women's National Team at the senior level.
That proved a wise choice, as she won Olympic gold and a World Cup with Team USA. Her decision also made her quite unpopular among Canadian supporters.
As documented by The Canadian Press, Leroux claimed in 2013 that she was a victim of racist abuse during an Olympic qualifier held in Vancouver.
"When you chant racial slurs, taunt me and talk about my family don't be mad when I shush you and show pride in what I represent...America," Leroux tweeted at the time.
On Thursday, Leroux shared a handful of hate-filled and racist tweets she received years ago. Each screenshot contains NSFW language, but the pictures can be found here.
Leroux addressed the racist remarks in a separate tweet:
Now we have reached that point in time where you get to see the truth. Where you don’t get to look away anymore. As a person of color growing up in white family I have always felt different. No matter how much my mom loved me. No matter how many times she told me I was beautiful.
— Sydney Leroux Dwyer (@sydneyleroux) June 4, 2020
"Now we have reached that point in time where you get to see the truth. Where you don’t get to look away anymore. As a person of color growing up in white family I have always felt different. No matter how much my mom loved me. No matter how many times she told me I was beautiful."
In March, People's Claudia Harmata wrote how Leroux was hoping to enjoy a comeback NWSL season after giving birth in June 2019. The campaign's start was pushed back because of the coronavirus pandemic, though, and it's now set to get underway via a "Challenge Cup" later this month.
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