Olympic 800m finalist Alysia Montano tells SPIKES about her love of the beautiful game and how it helps her on the track

I played soccer from the age of five through high school and I had some offers to play soccer at college. It was a tough choice but I decided to concentrate on track. It made sense academically and from a sporting view. Having said that, I loved team sports.

I played in midfield both centrally and on the left and occasionally as a striker. I wasn’t predominantly right-footed but I had a good left foot and that’s why I played out on the left.

Playing soccer translated so well to track. In an average game I could cover six miles a match, which was great for endurance but also the short, sharp bursts of speed really helped my track. There are so many elements to soccer training which really correlate to the endurance side of track and field. It was not just about moving in a linear fashion, in soccer you are also moving laterally.

I still like to play soccer, especially in the fall and winter months. My coach and I get on very well and he shares the same philosophy as me that sport is about balance and happiness. For that reason he is happy for me to play soccer. It helps me take a break from track but I help incorporate it as part of my training.

The one year I decided not to play soccer I got hurt. That came in 2008 and I believe I get injured because there was a lack of strength in the muscles that I was so used to previously engaging through soccer.

I follow the game closely on TV. I watched some of the Euro 2012 tournament this year and my husband is a big fan of Inter Milan. I love watching Brazil and I am a big fan of Pele. I always used to play number ten like him.