Cat Whitehill Named Honorary Co-Chair of The World Games 2022

Cat Whitehill Named Honorary Co-Chair of The World Games 2022 Birmingham
Olympic Gold Medalist and Alabama Sports Hall of Famer to Support Global Event

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (June 17, 2020) – The Birmingham Organizing Committee for The World Games 2022 today announced that Olympic Gold Medalist and former Briarwood Christian School soccer standout Catherine Reddick Whitehill has joined The World Games 2022 as an Honorary Co-Chair.

The World Games 2022 (TWG2022), an international multi-sport event organized with the support of the International Olympic Committee, will hold its 11th edition in Birmingham from July 7-17, 2022.  An anticipated 3,600 athletes will participate in more than 30 different sports throughout The World Games 2022.

Whitehill was a member of U.S. Women’s National Team from 2000-2010, winning Olympic gold in 2004. In 134 appearances with the team, Whitehill scored 11 goals and played in two World Cups (2003 and 2007).

Prior to her professional success, Whitehill led Briarwood to four consecutive state championships while scoring 211 goals. Whitehill was a four-time All-State selection, a two-time Parade All-American, and a two-time Gatorade Soccer player of the Year in Alabama.

“Having an international competition like The World Games 2022 come to Birmingham is something the community should be extremely proud of,” Whitehill said. “It also represents an incredible opportunity for young girls in Birmingham and the surrounding community to see some amazing female athletes compete on a global stage, right in their own hometown. That’s huge.”

After leaving Briarwood, Whitehill enrolled at the University of North Carolina, helping the Tar Heels capture two NCAA National Championships during her four years in Chapel Hill.  Whitehill was a four-time All-American in college, and took home college soccer’s highest honor, the MAC Hermann Trophy, following her senior year in 2003.

Whitehill also played professional soccer in the United States from 2009-2015 as a member of the Washington Freedom, Atlanta Beat and Boston Breakers.

A class of 2019 inductee to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Whitehill joins Olympic Gold Medalist Vonetta Flowers, former NBA MVP Charles Barkley and country music star Randy Owen on the current list of Honorary Co-Chairs.

“Adding another Olympic Gold Medalist to our team is very exciting and a huge honor for us,” The World Games 2022 CEO Nick Sellers said. “When people in Birmingham think about soccer, they think about Cat. She helped put the sport on the map in this community, and we know she can amplify the voice and mission of The World Games 2022 in the same way.”

In her role with The World Games 2022, Whitehill will participate in several events, including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. She will also represent, support, and promote the message and mission of The World Games 2022.

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ABOUT THE WORLD GAMES 2022

The World Games 2022 Birmingham is the next generation of global sport competition, welcoming elite athletes from all over the world to compete for gold in 34 unique, multi-disciplinary sports. Featuring 3,600 athletes from more than 100 countries, the international event will unite global fans with the

Birmingham community in 25+ venues around the greater metropolitan area. The World Games 2022 Birmingham, which marks the 40th anniversary of the event, will take place from July 7-17, 2022 and will generate an estimated $256 million in economic impact. The World Games was established by the International World Games Association, an organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The World Games 2022 is supported by the International Olympic Committee. For more information visit TWG2022.com or find us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.