Chalk up another first for Canadian women’s national soccer team member Shelina Zadorsky.

At a time when the word "whirlwind" would best describe the last two years of life for the 24-year-old Londoner, grabbing a spot at the head table for the 61st London Sports Celebrity Dinner and Auction on Feb. 13 is one more high-profile event Zadorsky is getting used to attending.

“I think in high school I was in contact with them, but it never worked out with timing,” Zadorsky said from California where she is training with the women's national team. “This will be my first time and I found out a couple days ago and it’s awesome. I’m so happy I will be home for it.”

The national team moved their training to Los Angeles because the weather in Vancouver was nasty.

“Funny enough, the first couple of days here, it was torrential downpour. But it’s beautiful now,” she said.

Zadorsky and the national team are training for their first match at home since they won the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics bronze medal. They will play a bronze medal celebratory friendly against Mexico in Vancouver on Feb. 4.

Zadorsky is enjoying life right now and for good reason. She is a member of by far the most successful and respected soccer program not only in Canada but in the world of women’s soccer.

Winning the bronze medal added to a resume that is grown more impressive by the day. She started with the Canadian program in 2007 and won a bronze medal at the CONCACAF U17 championship in 2008.

She played at each national team age level,which included an appearance with the senior side in 2013.

It took a while for her to make it back there. She played professionally in the Australian and Swedish leagues before getting another chance on the senior side. The central defender scored two goals in the 2015 Pan Am Games and her international career took off.

She plays for the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League, where she helped her side to the NWSL final.

Before beginning to train again with the national team, Zadorsky took a little bit of down time, something she needed after the pressure-filled year, all the appearances, interviews and travel. It also has given her time to reflect on how far she’s come.

“I think reflection is a huge part of life. It’s such a powerful tool,” she said. “I’ve been so lucky to have that time after the end of the NWSL season to get back to family and do some personal reflection. It’s been a crazy year for me; to kind of write and speak about all that I’ve learned has been really beneficial to me.”

For someone who is used to being on the go, it was surprisingly easy to be able to take a step back.

“My body and mind were telling me to do that,” she said. “Coming home from Rio we went right back to our pro clubs and had to finish the season. It wasn’t until mid-October that we were in the off-season. I had November and December to recharge and reflect. It’s been awesome to slow done and get back to individual training.”

Zadorsky said in her eyes, it was a “perfect off-season and it was fun to create my own schedule."

She trains with Maria Mountain in London, founder of Revolution Sport Conditioning and a person Zardorsky calls “one of my mentors,” and with Shayne Campbell, a soccer coach in Guelph.

“I kicked around in Michigan (she’s an alumni of the Michigan Wolverines’ soccer program), reconnected with friends, which is so necessary,” she said.

Zadorsky’s rise to the national team is proof of how much she’s learned about the game and how to handle stressful situations on the international stage.

When asked what was the most significant thing she learned in the past year, Zadorsky hesitated.

“There are so many things, it’s kind of hard to narrow it down,” she said.

Elite athletes know how to play the game and how to perform under pressure. The learning curve to be able to handle every twist that comes with it is often steep.

“I quickly learned you need balance. That’s been beneficial to learn and know what my balance is,” Zadorsky said. “For me as an individual learning what means the most to me so I know where I want to put my time and energy and surrounding yourself with like-minded people; and setting your goals and the plan to get to those goals, that was important. Not to sound cliché, but really just enjoying that process because that’s what it’s about.”

Zadorsky plans to return to the Spirit for another yea,r but after reflecting Zadorsky is also looking farther ahead.

“It’s such a pressure-filled year, it’s sometimes hard to enjoy every moment fully so I definitely learned that in the last year,” Zadorsky said. “Now I’m excited for this year to work towards the World Cup and the Olympics.”

Joining Zadorsky at the head table so far are former Toronto Blue Jays’ Roberto Alomar; former wrestler Bret (The Hitman) Hart; just retired National Hockey Leaguer John Scott; sportsperson of the year Richard McLaren; and Thames Valley Children’s Centre ambassador Cole Martin.

Tickets for the event can be purchased at http://ldnsportsdinner.com/get-tickets.