Soccer star Rose Lavelle says her first Olympics will be ‘a whole different beast’ than the World Cup

• Rose Lavelle has been named to the 18-player US Women's National Team roster for the Olympics.
• The breakout star from the 2019 World Cup said she suspects Tokyo will be "a whole different beast."
• Lavelle told Insider she thinks the Olympics are "a bit more grueling of a tournament."
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Rose Lavelle is going for gold.

The 26-year-old superstar midfielder was named to the US Women's National Team's 18-person roster for this summer's Tokyo Olympics. And though she was the bona fide breakout star of the USWNT's dominant performance at the 2019 World Cup, Lavelle knows that her first Olympic games will almost certainly be "a whole different beast."

"Obviously, I think it was incredible to get that experience at the World Cup," Lavelle told Insider. "Just having gone through that, I already feel so much more prepared to go to the Olympics because I've been through a major tournament before."

"But obviously, it is a different tournament," she added.

Lavelle cited the heat and humidity in Tokyo, the smaller pool of teams, the slimmed-down rosters, and the quick turnaround between games as unique challenges to the Olympics. And considering she and her USWNT teammates will have to play three group-stage matches in seven days to qualify for the knockout round, she's probably right when she calls the games "a bit more grueling of a tournament" than the World Cup.

"I haven't been to one, but from like the outside looking in when I compare the two, it's done in such a tight timeframe with a smaller roster," Lavelle said. "You have to be fit and healthy and ready to go because of the quick turnaround. Especially in the heat in Tokyo, it's going to be very demanding physically."

Her recent partnership with Icy Hot is sure to "really come in handy for the Olympics" as Lavelle battles bumps, bruises, and fatigue throughout the tournament.

But the OL Reign star doesn't seem all too concerned about the trials that are sure to come in Tokyo. For now, she's too busy relishing the fact that she's made the roster - a notoriously difficult feat in and of itself - and will officially be competing at the Olympics for the first time in her career.

"I love the Olympics. I've always loved watching it," Lavelle said. "I think it's so inspiring. It gives me the chills listening or watching people on the medal stand listening to their national anthem. Regardless of what country it is, it's always just such a cool moment."

"So to get to be a part of a team that goes there and is obviously looking to win and get a medal, I think that would be such an amazing experience," she added.