Lucy Bronze’s mother has disclosed that her daughter’s middle name is Tough, fittingly reflecting her resilience after playing through a broken leg to win the European Championship.
Speaking on BBC Woman’s Hour, Diane Bronze revealed the full-back fractured her tibia in June but continued to play, relying on her sports science background. “She reads research papers and she knows about injuries,” Ms Bronze said. “That’s how she can keep going. That’s why she knew how to tape her own leg.”
The Chelsea medical team, teammates, and family were aware of the injury but kept it secret. “Not a whisper got out,” added Ms Bronze, who noted Lucy’s high pain threshold.
Explaining the unusual middle name, Ms Bronze said her maiden name is Tough. Following Portuguese tradition, she kept it after marriage and added her husband’s surname. “All of my children are Tough Bronzes,” she said.
Ms Bronze joked that manager Sarina Wiegman may need to “get her off the pitch in a wheelchair” after the tournament, but is confident Lucy will continue playing.
