Last summer, Anderson Lee watched with admiration as USA Football’s U.S. National Teams dominated the gold medal standings at the 2023 Junior International Cup and the IFAF Americas Continental Flag Football Championship. The men’s and women’s teams secured hard-fought victories over Mexico, while the 15U and 17U boys’ and girls’ teams triumphed against Japan.
As Lee followed the competition through live streams and recorded videos, he felt a burning desire to experience the thrill of winning a gold medal alongside the nation’s top flag football athletes. Inspired, he set a clear goal: to be part of the U.S. National Team. To stay focused, he created a vision board in his room, featuring images of the Junior International Cup, the Junior National Team Pathway, LA28, and photos of past U.S. National Team players.
“I made a vision board with representations of my goals. USA Football was at the center, and around it were visuals of the Junior International Cup, the Junior National Team Pathway, LA28, and past players. The vision board kept me focused, especially on the Junior International Cup and making the National Team. It was my secret weapon,” Lee explained.
Lee’s flag football journey began in 2020, originally as a way to improve his skills for tackle football. Although he’d always been interested in football, he didn’t start playing until later in life. After suffering a shoulder injury in 2021, which halted his tackle football ambitions, Lee turned his attention to flag football, where he honed his agility, speed, and balance.
“Flag football is the best athletic foundation for any sport,” Lee stated. “It’s a fantastic way to represent my country while doing what I love.”
Lee’s unique upbringing in Massachusetts, where his family enjoyed ice skating on a lake in their backyard, played a significant role in shaping his athletic abilities. Through years of lessons, he developed strong balance and physical strength. Additionally, his experience with drumming helped him build coordination, which has translated well to his football skills.
“Skating helped me develop my balance and strengthen my body. Drumming has also contributed to my coordination, and both have made me a better football player,” Lee shared.
As Lee’s passion for flag football grew, he sought new opportunities, including the U.S. National Team. His connection to the team began through an encounter with Amber Clark, a star athlete on the women’s team, who introduced him to the GMTM Digital Combine, part of the National Team Pathway.
“Amber Clark visited a local Kansas City flag football camp, where I was helping with training. She encouraged me to try the Digital Combine,” Lee recalled.
In March, Lee, along with about 140 other junior athletes, attended the U.S. National Team Trials in Charlotte, North Carolina. From there, he was one of 18 boys invited to the U.S. National Team Training Camp in June. Only 12 athletes would ultimately make the final roster.
Lee was selected to the team and traveled to Los Angeles in July for the Junior International Cup. There, the 15U U.S. Boys’ Flag National Team competed against teams from Canada, Japan, Mexico, and Panama in pool play before advancing to the knockout rounds.
“I’ve always dreamed of being one of the best,” Lee explained. “Competing against top athletes made the Junior International Cup a fantastic experience. It was eye-opening to see the caliber of talent and the people involved in the sport.”
The U.S. team remained undefeated in pool play, but faced a strong challenge from Japan in a 20-18 victory. Overcoming this adversity bolstered the confidence of Lee and his teammates.
“The jump from nationals to competing against international teams was significant. Seeing the love for the game in other countries was encouraging and made me excited about the sport’s future,” Lee said.
Throughout the competition, Lee and his teammates forged strong bonds and exchanged valuable knowledge. He believes that these experiences helped him grow both physically and mentally.
“Training and competing alongside the best athletes in the country were invaluable. It brought out our competitive edge and sharpened our skills,” Lee said.
In the championship game, the U.S. team faced Japan again and won 43-20, finishing with a perfect 6-0 record. As they received their gold medals under the Los Angeles sun, Lee felt a sense of achievement that he had long dreamed about.
“It felt surreal. A year ago, I watched the medal ceremony and wished to be part of it. To be up there holding a gold medal was the most rewarding moment of my life. All the hard work paid off,” Lee recalled.
Upon returning home, Lee knew exactly where his gold medal would go.
“I placed the medal on my vision board. It was one of the best moments of the year. That board helped me stay focused, and having clear goals will always drive me to be better.”
