Becoming history doesn’t happen by chance. It’s a long thought out process. It’s execution must be delivered with the highest quality and attention to detail. It’s the ability to overcome challenges and perform at a high level during adversity, whenever ti comes. Santia Deck is making said history. An athlete in her youth, this young phenom is changing history. She’s the first female athlete to own her a shoe company. She’s also a professional football player for the Los Angeles Fames.
She sat down with Industry Rules to discuss her professional football career as well as her business ventures.
AF: How have you been under the world’s COVID-19 pandemic?
SD: Honestly, it’s been a bitter sweet thing for me. Because my [football] season was canceled. That would been our first actual season for the entire league. At the same time, I launch a shoe company. The time gave me the opportunity to more interviews, catch up on sleep (laugh) and spend more time with friends and family. I also got a chance to do different hobbies I would have never had the time for. Plus I had time to do self reflection as well. I recently purchase a house so things are looking good. Of course [due to the pandemic], I have not been able to travel.
AF: You have your own shoe company called “TRONUS”. What was the idea in creating this brand?
SD: The name means thrown in greek and my personal brand is “Queen of Abs Fitness”. So, I wanted to correlate the two together. I want to create a shoe that you could work out in as well as be able to wear them in a causal setting. It’s also unisex, so, it’s for both men and women. We have a lot of initiatives that are coming out soon. We have another generation that’s coming out that will be catered towards fitness. It will be geared for today’s athlete. Whether it’s basketball, track, football, this next generation will be designed for that. It will purely focus on performance. We also have apparel that’s coming out. That’s super exciting! It will be mind blowing. We’re trying to be the best in the world at the end of the day. That’s our gaol.
AF: How did you get into the sports?
SD: I think this is something I was born to do. My first performance was like 4 years old. I played tennis and then I dabbled in basketball, ran track from years 7 to 23. All of my brothers are athletes and my sister was a gymnast as well. I come from a very athletic background. My father never played sports so my mother alway says we get it from her (laugh). She ran track back in the days. My brothers played football at the running back position. I play running back now. Sports has been in our life since we were all kids.
AF: Can you list some highlights of your career?
SD: I receive a full scholarship for track and field at Texas A&M. That gave me opportunity to attend college. Next, I was on the path for Olympic trials for track and field. Unfortunately, I got injured which subsequently ended my track and field career. [I transitioned to flag football. and posted some clips on social media], then, the USA rugby coach reached out to me back in 2015. He recruited me to be on the Olympic team. Next thing I know, I was on a plane to California where I was training for the team. Unfortunately, the coach was fired. I soon transitioned back to playing flag football.
Soon after, I was being recruited agin to play rugby, specifically for the USA Olympic team. I went to a practice and fell in love with the sport. Two to three weeks later, my coach was telling me to really focus on my making the Olympic team. So, I went from just trying to learn the sport to actually trying to make the USA team for 2020. So, all of 2019, I was traveling to places like New Zealand, London and different places where the sport is huge, learning the ropes at the same time. I made the international team. That really lead to me to continue traveling. [It was great] because it gave me the opportunity to showcase my skills in front of different people. Unfortunately, my body burnt out because I didn’t have enough time for recovery. For example, I will come from New Zealand and not take any break. From there, it would be training. I was later told I wouldn’t make the team.
From there, I receive a call from Lupe Rose who owns WFLA Football. She made me an offer that I couldn’t refuse. Now, I’m a professional football player.
AF: What are some of things you’ve learned while being an athlete?
SD: Perseverance. That’s the first thing I think about when it comes to my journey as an athlete. I was always the underdog. This kept me humble as I was the one who would stay after practice to work on my technique. I would wake early before I would go to class and do bleacher work (running up bleacher training). I could never reach my full potential because of injury [setbacks]. I had to have a lot for resilience to get to this point.
AF: Who has been your hardest critic? What did you learn from that person?
SD: Me (laugh). I would say my mom. She would never let me give up. She alway say if you start something, you better finish it. I took that advice all the way into my adult life. My mom is my best friend and she’s also my manager.
AF: What advice would you give another female who’s looking to become an athlete?
SD: I would say whatever sport you’re involved in you should become a student of the game. You should learn about the sport in all areas (i.e. rules, every position etc). If you have male friends or family members that play sports, asked them about the nuance of the game and get valuable information from them. You should also get a personal trainer that’s specific to your actual position.
AF: What’s next for you career?
SD: I have my hands in so many different pots right now. I want to continue making history. I became the highest paid female football player in history. I also became the first female athlete to own her shoe company. When the football season start for us, I want to continue to break barriers. That’s on and off the field.
You can follow Santia Deck’s journey via her social media, specifically instagram @TrackBaby001.
