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Megan & Rachael Rapinoe with Mendi

Megan & Rachael Rapinoe with Mendi

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Relieving the Stigma of Cannabis in Sports

Megan and Rachael Rapinoe may be synonymous with soccer, but they are quickly emerging as leaders in the CBD market.

Retiring from the field and pursuing a career in health and fitness, Rachael helped launch Mendi in 2019, an athlete-built cannabis brand that provides all-natural solutions for sports and athletic performance recovery with the highest quality of hemp-derived, CBD products. Mendi grew out of the sisters’ shared passion to improve the lives of athletes using the untapped potential of Mother Nature’s best ingredients. 

As Mendi’s official athlete brand ambassador, Megan is a long-time proponent of using CBD for recovery. This summer, she is leading the U.S. Soccer Women’s National Team to back-to-back gold medals at her third Olympic Games in Tokyo, and for the first time out of the Olympics’ 125-year history, elite athletes can incorporate CBD products during their rigorous training schedules in preparation to compete in front of the world. Megan trusts Mendi to deliver consistent mood, pain, and sleep management to set her up for success on the field and beyond.

OFM had the opportunity to connect with Megan and talk more about her role with Mendi, the products she uses, and destigmatizing cannabis in sports.

Can you tell us more about your role as the official athlete brand ambassador for Mendi?
My decision to partner with Mendi was two-fold: I loved their products but equally loved what their brand stood for. From the beginning, Mendi chose to build a brand that champions a level playing field. This was a big draw for me, as there are a lot of other CBD brands in the space. The biggest role in my partnership with Mendi is to lend credibility to their all-natural CBD products and how it solves real ailments in my life, such as pain, inflammation, sleep, and stress. 

Mendi’s recovery products have sincerely made a big impact on my life, both physically and mentally. I am lending my voice and platform to help Mendi advocate for all athletes to have access to healthier, safer, and more natural alternatives for better recovery. I also help with product feedback, R&D, and brand visibility to name a few other things. 

What was going through your mind when Rachael said she wanted to start this brand of CBD sports medicine? Were you 100 percent on board with the idea, or did you have some reservations?
I was 100 percent on board. Not only is CBD such an important piece for myself and other professional athletes I know, but Rach is uniquely positioned to lead an incredible business and help build an inclusive space within a growing industry. 

Rapinoe-Mendi

What has your relationship with CBD been like, and how do you implement it into your regimen? Which Mendi products do you use regularly?
As an athlete that has gone on this journey with CBD and cannabis, it has really been about trying to figure out what it is and how it works. I also had a personal journey with prescription drugs, opiates, and sleeping pills, etc. Not that I ever abused it, but just the regularity with which it’s been handed out for athletes who are not sleeping well due to jet lag, sore muscles, hurt, or whatever. I just absolutely think that CBD as an alternative can help athletes be the best that they can at their craft and return to nature in a way that gives real recovery benefits long term. 

As for which Mendi products are truly part of my daily life, I love the gummies and the salve stick. Both are so easy to travel with and carry. I also use the massage oil and the gel caps. 

Now that CBD has been removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances, how is this a game changer for the world of sports?
I think this is the first step in the right direction and an exciting moment in the world of cannabis and sports. For the first time in history, CBD products are helping athletes get to the world’s biggest stage. These products have proven to be healthier tools than what has been historically prescribed and used in sports. So, from an athlete’s perspective, I feel better than ever because I know what I am putting in my body is all-natural and 100 percent safe for me. 

Do you believe Mendi is also changing the narrative and fighting against the negative CBD stigma?
At this point in my career, it is more important to have long-term partnerships with companies who genuinely want to build a brighter future for all. Mendi is absolutely doing this by fighting for the destigmatization of cannabis in sports, but also by actively creating equality and equity in the world of sports and cannabis. They have been extremely thoughtful, detailed, and disciplined in their approach thus far, and I do think they are changing the narrative. 

You are competing in your third Olympic Games. How meaningful is this to you, and what are you looking forward to the most about Tokyo? Can you talk about the process and what athletes go through leading up to the games?
I never take moments like this for granted; being a part of the Olympic team is an honor every time. This journey has been unprecedented, with the pandemic and ground shifting in our country. Athletes have been training under circumstances we have not seen before. It continues to be an intense time for all of us. I am always excited to take the field with my team and compete at the highest level. 

Being the only openly queer player on the U.S. women’s national team around 2012 put you in the spotlight as an LGBTQ activist. What are leagues doing to handle LGBTQ acceptance and other racial/justice movements?
Like with any movement, it has been a process for leagues to learn how to handle a changing landscape. We have made a lot of progress since 2012, and we have a long way to go. I have been proud of my teams for embracing each other and always having each other’s backs.

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