What Young Athletes & Families Can Learn From Professional Soccer Players Who Stutter

On the playing field or rink, the focus is hardly on speech. Instead, everyone focuses on teamwork and effort. A player can communicate with a pass, a run, a tackle, a goal, or the way they support and represent their team.

But for athletes who stutter, the pressure doesn’t end when the game is over. There are cameras, lights, interviewers, locker room conversations, team talks, and lots of public attention. And for some people who stutter, those moments can feel harder than the game itself. But when athletes speak openly (and acceptingly) about stuttering, young people who stutter start to believe that it doesn’t disqualify them from being confident, competitive, or successful.

Here are a few soccer players whose stories have helped bring more visibility to stuttering in sports.

Ken Sema

Swedish soccer player Ken Sema has been stuttering since he was six years old and became widely known beyond the soccer world after a post-game interview in 2023 went viral. Sema, who played for Watford FC at the time, had just delivered a standout performance on the field. Then came the interview. For many viewers, what stood out was not only what he did during the match but also the way he spoke honestly and took his time while doing so.

Luke Ayling

English soccer player Luke Ayling has also spoken publicly about stuttering and the pressure that comes with interviews.

"When I first came to Leeds, I wasn’t comfortable at all doing interviews,” Ayling said during an interview with the BBC. “And I’ve kind of got to a point now where I just don’t care. If I do an interview and I have a stutter, I see a lot of things online when people say that I say ‘then’ and ‘like’ a lot … I just got to a point where I just thought, you know what, I’m doing an interview with somebody who wants to speak to me and who actually wants to hear what I’ve got to say, so why am I scared to do it?"

Ayling’s openness helps challenge the idea that professional athletes are always fearless in front of a microphone. Even people who perform under pressure for a living can feel vulnerable when speaking publicly.

João Gomes

Brazilian central midfielder João Gomes, who plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, has spoken about his experiences with stuttering and the importance of patience in communication.

“I missed out on a lot of things in my life due to fear,” said Gomes in an interview with The Athletic. “Fear of what others would think of me, what they would say. That fear limits you more and more. You close yourself up in a bubble. Today, I am much more accepting of who I am and how I speak, because it’s not a big deal. Every person has their characteristics and their way of living. Today, I see it as a natural thing.”

For kids, teens, and adults who stutter, being interrupted, rushed, or spoken over can make communication feel even harder. Supportive listeners can make a real difference by giving the person time, maintaining natural eye contact, and not finishing their sentences for them.

Why these stories matter

Respectful and healthy representation of stuttering matters because children who stutter (and even many adults who stutter) are always looking for proof that they can stutter and still be successful. These soccer players who stutter help provide that proof. They show that stuttering and confidence can exist together, as well as that fluency should never be the measure of a person’s value, intelligence, talent, or potential.

What young athletes who stutter need to hear

If you are a young athlete who stutters, the National Stuttering Association (NSA) wholeheartedly supports you on your journey. We’re here to tell you that you don’t have to choose between your voice and your dreams.

You can play. You can compete. You can lead. You can speak when you are ready. You can take your time. You can stutter and still be heard.

And if you’re a parent, coach, teammate, or fan, one of the most powerful things you can do is just listen to someone who stutters with patience and respect, as you would anyone. Don’t rush them. Don’t finish their sentences. Don’t make stuttering their whole story; see the whole person for who they are. Everyone deserves to be known for more than one part of who they are.

At the NSA, we believe people who stutter should never feel alone. Community can make a difference, whether on the soccer field, in the classroom, at work, or in everyday life. If you or someone you love stutters, the NSA is here to provide support, connection, education, and a community that understands.

Find support, resources, and community today at WeStutter.org.