Why Matildas star Mary Fowler is grateful coach Tony Gustavsson dropped her in 2023 ahead of Paris Olympics
- Manchester City star to be focal point of attack in Paris
- Brings a wealth of Olympic and World Cup experience
- Thanked the coach for his honesty with her before the matches in Paris
Benching a rising superstar is a bold move, but Mary Fowler believes it was crucial to her development as a top footballer and as a person.
Whatever the future holds for Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson after the Olympics, Fowler remains grateful to him for this unusual reason.
Fowler has already competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and two World Championships in 2019 and 2023.
Now she is aiming for a medal in Paris, so that she can play an important role for the Matildas at the Olympic Games in Paris, which start on July 26.
While reflecting on her journey, Fowler revealed to News Corp that was the stunning moment when Gustavsson benched her in 2023, which would have meant her success,
“Looking back now, I really appreciated him for benching me when I wasn’t performing so well,” she said.
“It may seem silly to say, but I appreciate when a coach can be honest and say you’re not at your best. He’s been good.”
Mary Fowler will be the attacking weapon for the Matildas at the Paris Olympics
She thanked coach Tony Gustavsson for being fair and dropping her when her form wasn’t right.
This pivotal moment took place during the 2023 Nations Cup.
Although Fowler was a regular starter for Gustavsson after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she was left on the bench.
She played in the opening match against the Czech Republic, did not play against Spain and was given limited playing time against Jamaica.
Fowler was also playing her first season with Manchester City in the Women’s Super League (WSL) at the time, playing just 167 minutes in 11 games.
Determined to prove herself, Fowler threw everything she had into her training at club and international level.
Her hard work paid off: she once again played a starting spot for Gustavsson at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where she excelled.
Fowler’s gratitude is immense. “You can sit on the bench and you have to work to get that starting spot again. I can look back on that time and see that I’ve changed as a player and as a person,” she said.
“It made me better. It was very important for me to get in better shape today. He’s been good to me from a growth perspective.”
The Matildas go into the Olympics as genuine medal contenders despite the absence of injured captain Sam Kerr
Fowler and the Matildas found additional inspiration from Cathy Freeman, who made a surprise appearance at the training camp ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
This encounter left the team completely stunned and underlined the greatness of an Olympic legacy.
“It was amazing. Everyone was just shocked when they saw her. The staff that organized it did a really good job of keeping it a secret,” Fowler said.
“What struck me was how genuine she was. She was just a sweet lady. She made everyone laugh, but she was so real about her story.
“I like that she did everything because she wanted to do it. She didn’t let what other people wanted her to do influence her. She just believed in herself.”