Ellie Bryant’s journey is a powerful testament to resilience and purpose. Once a promising young soccer player from Medina, her path took a dramatic turn through the highs of athletic success and the lows of debilitating injuries, ultimately leading her to a new and profound purpose.

Ellie’s love for soccer ignited at the age of four and flourished throughout her years playing for local leagues and club teams. Her commitment to the sport was unwavering, and soon she was celebrated as a standout player at Bellevue High School. However, her promising career was disrupted by two significant ACL injuries, a common but critical issue among female athletes.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), essential for knee stability, connects the femur to the tibia. Female athletes tear this ligament at an alarmingly higher rate than their male counterparts. These injuries can require multiple surgeries, often taking players off the pitch for an entire year. There is also potential for ACL tears to be career-ending injuries. Despite this threat, Ellie remained resolute, rehabilitating her knee and returning to the pitch.

After graduating from Bellevue High, Ellie continued her soccer career at the University of Pennsylvania. Rather than being disheartened by her injuries, they kindled a new passion within her. Today, Ellie is studying to become an orthopedic surgeon, focusing on preventing ACL injuries among female athletes. “It’s about education,” Ellie emphasizes. “Many don’t realize that the female anatomy increases susceptibility to ACL tears.” 

In a field dominated by men – where 95% of practitioners are male – Ellie is determined to effect change. The lack of consideration and knowledge of female anatomy during her playing years led to inadequate guidance on injury prevention. A problem that remains to this day. And Ellie’s experience is not unique. She witnessed several teammates both at Bellevue High and Penn who endured ACL injuries, and many of the sport’s biggest stars including Alex Morgan, Christen Press, and Megan Rapinoe have been sidelined for months at a time by ACL tears. According to Ellie, these injuries highlight the critical need for research and preventive strategies in women’s soccer and other sports.   

Reflecting on her own athletic career, Ellie notes that injury prevention exercises were virtually nonexistent prior to the high school level – a gap she is now committed to bridging. She points out that protocols such as the FIFA 11+ program, a warm-up routine designed to reduce soccer-related injuries, are most effective when adopted early. Ellie hopes that as parents, coaches, schools, and organizations become more informed they will begin to incorporate programs like FIFA 11+ with athletes as early as the age of eight.

Ellie’s journey is one of perseverance and determination. As she forges her path in orthopedic surgery, Ellie is committed to advancing the understanding and prevention of injuries in female athletes. Her story is one of overcoming obstacles and transforming personal challenges into a mission to help others. Ellie’s dedication and vision promised to leave a lasting impact not only in the world of sports medicine but also in the lives of young athletes throughout our community and world.