Born with immense talent and an unrelenting will to succeed, football freestyle icon, Laura Biondo, has earned the opportunity to tour the world playing the sport she loves and fulfill her lifelong dream of juggling with Diego Maradona.
On December 7, in Brussels, Belgium, the Venezuelan hero will put it all on the line at the 2023 Red Bull Street Style Championships. In the company of the best freestylers on the planet, the 15x Guinness World Record holder will look to showcase why she’s regarded as one of the best to ever do it.
After an impressive stint as a professional footballer in the Italian Major League, the 34-year-old turned to the world of freestyle, quickly exhibiting all the requisite flare and charisma necessary to attract the attention of viewers from around the globe.
And thanks to her athleticism and iconic ‘Flicker’ trick in which she appears to bend the laws of physics to pull off the masterful skill move, she got the chance to kick the ball around with one of the greatest players of all time — Diego Maradona.
Laura Biondo loved juggling with Diego Maradona
In an exclusive interview with Sporf, she laughed: “I had never been so nervous in all my life than I was juggling the ball with him. One of the reasons why I cared so much about juggling and technique was because he was a hero. I started juggling a tennis ball because he would juggle a tennis ball. He was a big inspiration. To meet him face to face was incredible. Sometimes I look at that video and think, ‘That’s too good to be true’.
“It was rewarding because he was really nice. He wasn’t like a snob or anything. He was down to play with me, to do some kick-ups. And as you see in the video, he gives me a hug. I’m just this girl asking him to juggle with me, and he’s super open about it. So it was really nice. It felt good.”
And it’s fair to say that Biondo is an encyclopedia of knowledge when it comes to freestyle, as her first inspiration was the one and only Ronaldinho. While recovering from an injury during her professional football career, she watched one of the Brazilian’s Joga Bonito commercials and never looked back.
She reminisced: “I think he was one of the first players to give a platform to freestyle by doing tricks and having that playfulness. I’ve not met him, hopefully one day, but when other freestylers have, he’s just so open. He understands what it means to know how to control the ball the way we do.”
Laura Biondo is ready to perform at the 2023 Red Bull Street Style Championships
When the spotlight shines, Biondo rises to the occasion, using the nerves as fuel to her fire to produce incredible displays for her adoring fans. Therefore, it goes without saying that those in attendance in Brussels are in for a remarkable show.
But before she blows away the crowd with the slick tricks that have taken her around the globe, she intends on tucking into the famous Belgian cuisine.
The athlete laughed: “Of course, that’s the first thing I’m doing. I already told a couple of the girls that as soon as we get there, we’re going for big Belgian waffles.”
However, as scrumptious as the food will undoubtedly be, the trip is about much more than a sweet treat or even gaining personal glory. Having pioneered a new wave of women participating in freestyle, Biondo hopes to serve as a beacon of inspiration for all the young girls in attendance.
She concluded with a touching message: “I hope that anyone watching just follows their dreams. If there’s something that you really want to try and do, put your mind and heart into it. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. Whether you’re a boy or a girl or blue or purple, whatever you want to be, if there’s something true in your heart that you want to do, just go for it. Fight for it, work hard, and you’ll achieve it.”
To follow Laura’s progress and for more information on the Red Bull Street Style event, which takes place on Thursday 7th of December, visit www.redbullstreetstyle.com/.
Featured Image Credit: Getty & Red Bull
