ACTIVEkids.com: What are some of the challenges of being part of a marriage between two professional athletes where you're playing in Kansas City and he's playing in New Orleans?
Holiday: It has its benefits because you understand each other's schedule. We're so supportive. We obviously want what's best not only for each other emotionally, but also what's best for our careers and physically. We're both super competitive so that helps, but it does get draining; the lifestyle, the travel, not seeing each other, seeing each other maybe five days a month, it's hard. I wouldn't ask for anything different because Jrue's been so supportive of me and I'm so supportive of him.
ACTIVEkids.com: With the Olympics coming up next summer, did that make the decision to retire a little bit more difficult?
Holiday: I tell people this all the time, but winning is an addicting feeling. The Olympics are addicting. You win a gold medal and you want more. You go back and win another gold medal and you want more. I definitely think it's going to be tough for me to not pursue that, to not go to Rio [next] year, but I'll be cheering. I'll be so excited for Team USA and supporting them along the way.
ACTIVEkids.com: Before Rio, you've got the qualifiers coming up in February. It'll be the first time you're not with the team in eight or nine years. Is that going to be strange for you?
Holiday: It'll be difficult, but I'm going into it with eyes wide open. I feel very confident in my decision. I also know the transition phase is going to be different and I'm prepared.
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ACTIVEkids.com: Now that you've played your last club game and you have your last friendly with the national team coming up, what are your feelings?
Holiday: I still feel very confident and I'm so excited for the next chapter in my life. It's bittersweet. I think just the end of a time in my life, closing a chapter and moving on, I think that's going to be hard to not see the people that I'm used to seeing three weeks out of a month every single day. I think those relationships--I'm going to keep in touch with them, but saying goodbye to what we have now is definitely going to be difficult, but I feel very good about it. I'm excited for the next chapter.
ACTIVEkids.com: If you hadn't won the World Cup, would you have still retired, or did you want to go out with that trophy?
Holiday: I had made my decision before the World Cup, that I was retiring win or lose, but I think that I'm such a competitor that it would've been a lot harder if we would've lost. I think I would've struggled with the decision.
ACTIVEkids.com: I know you and your husband did a basketball and soccer clinic last month. How important is it to you to be able to do these kinds of clinics and influence kids and be a good role model?
Holiday: My husband and I both love to partner with great organizations and Smoothie King is unbelievable. To be able to have the opportunity to come out and talk to kids and really just share my story and share what I believe in and share the game that I love so much, it's huge. We love it. Jrue and I do a camp for Preemptive Love Coalition. Our passion is, we recognize we're on this pedestal for a reason and that's to give back and to help. If people will listen to us because of our sport, then we want to send a good message.
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