From Medical Marvel to Football Star

Katja Snoeijs isn’t just another name in the Women’s Super League. Born with a congenital heart defect and a left leg that grew six centimeters longer than her right, the Everton forward’s path to professional football defies conventional narratives.

The Early Battles

• Heart Surgery at 3: Underwent life-saving operation to repair a ventricular septal defect
• Leg-Length Discrepancy: Required custom orthopedic shoes until age 12
• Groundbreaking Surgery: Surgeons halted bone growth in her left femur to balance limb lengths

"My right leg became the 'project leg' in the gym," Snoeijs reveals. "The left had overcompensated for years, creating an unusual power imbalance."

Image: Snoeijs has scored 14 WSL goals since joining Everton in 2022

Football as Therapy

Despite hip issues potentially linked to her childhood condition, the 29-year-old Dutch international emphasizes:

• Adaptive Training: Works with physios to manage muscle asymmetry
• Technical Advantage: "That leg difference made me ambidextrous in dribbling"
• Mental Resilience: "Hospital visits taught me to embrace discomfort"

Off-Pitch Pursuits

When not training, Snoeijs engages in:

1. Book Club with teammates (current pick: Taylor Jenkins Reid novels)
2. Urban Photography around Liverpool’s architectural landmarks
3. Competitive Jigsaw Puzzles – "It’s like tactical pattern recognition"

Medical Legacy

Doctors remain fascinated by Snoeijs’ case:

• Undiagnosed Cause: No genetic explanation found for limb discrepancy
• Breech Birth Connection: Possible link to developmental abnormalities
• Annual Cardiac Screenings: Routine checks maintain heart health

"Football gave me normalcy," says Snoeijs, who has earned 38 Netherlands caps. "When I step on the pitch, I’m defined by skill—not medical charts."

Women’s Football Weekly returns with exclusive WSL analysis every Tuesday on BBC Sounds. Follow Katja’s journey @EvertonWomen on X.