With just one full season of futsal under her belt, Gemma Eady-Muxlow will soon jet off to Spain to take on some of the world's best junior players.
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The St Clare's High School student has been selected in an Australian side for the Costa Blanca Cup in Spain in July.
Gemma is the Manning River Times-Iguana Sportstar of the Week, earning a $50 open order at Iguana.
Playing in one of the world's elite futsal nations is a dream come true.
"I'm really excited," Gemma said with a huge grin.
"I've never actually been overseas before."
She was first introduced to the sport through Manning Futsal's weekly social competition.
"The team is made up of representative soccer players from the girls and we're called the Manning Magpies," Gemma explained.
After successfully trialing and playing for another national team, Gemma was headhunted to play in the Costa Blanca Cup.
"We went to Penrith and played a heap of games and there were people looking out to choose people to go on that tour (Costa Blanca Cup)," Gemma said.
This will be the 27th edition of the tournament, which brings together about 300 teams from more than 20 countries.
It will be split into age and gender divisions.
Gemma's training schedule will continue as normal, but she expects it to be ramped up once she sets foot in Spain.
Gemma has already shown her versatility on the field, playing a number of positions. She wouldn't have it any other way.
"I kinda go anywhere, I don't mind," she said. "At the Nationals I was playing up front but in futsal on Wednesdays I'm usually at the back."
Futsal is just the start when it comes to Gemma's blossoming sport career.
She continues to balance her school life (Gemma started year seven a few weeks ago) with a multitude of sporting commitments
"I do dancing, nippers, soccer, rep soccer, futsal, just started water polo and I enjoy cross country and long distance running," Gemma said.
If she had to pick a favourite, it's a tie between soccer and dancing. "But I put futsal with soccer," she added.
Gemma will put her representative soccer duties, which she has played for the last two years, on hiatus in 2020 because of her dancing schedule.
On Australia Day, Gemma was named joint winner of the Harrington Junior Sportsperson of the Year award.
This recognised all her sporting achievements, such as taking part in State All Schools cross country for the past three years, when she attended Harrington Public School.
