Karima Lemire (Social Science Commerce, 2019) is a professional soccer player in Germany on a one-year contract for FFC Turbine Potsdam.

A lifelong sports enthusiast, Lemire played soccer in high school and donned a Cavaliers jersey at Champlain Saint-Lambert.

“I have really good memories because we went to the National Championships two times. The first time for me was actually the first time the Champlain Women’s soccer team made it to nationals. We lost in the finals but we were really proud to be there,” she said. “The second year we actually won it. That was a really great moment.”

Lemire was named Rookie of the year by the RSEQ in 2019 and was named RSEQ 1st Team All-Star. She also received a university bursary from the Fondation de l’athlète d’excellence du Québec (FAEQ).

After Cegep, Lemire went on to play at UQAM with the Citadins while completing her bachelor’s in Administration.

Lemire was the recipient of the Sports Center Bursary issued by the Fondation de l’UQAM and she received the Student-athlete academic honor from the École des sciences de la gestion & Centre sportif UQAM. She also worked as a referee with Soccer Quebec from 2013 to 2018.

As she neared the end of her studies at UQAM, Lemire started to think about what would come next. She had long considered the idea of playing professionally, but said that it was important to her to prioritize her studies and finishing her undergraduate degree.

Lemire started training daily so that she would be ready to join a pro team by the summer recruitment window. In September 2023, she moved to Potsdam, Germany – a city located just outside of Berlin.

Moving to a new country proved at times overwhelming as Lemire grappled with a new club, new language and being far away from family and friends for the first time.  Luckily, Lemire joined the team with her best friend who is also from Montreal, and says it only took a few months to settle in.

She described FFC Turbine Potsdam as “the best place to start [her] career” and is looking forward to whatever comes next.

Lemire’s advice for current students and recent graduates: “For me, it was really important to prioritize school above sports. Take your time to make the best decision. I didn’t want to rush into something I was not ready for. I’m at peace with my choices. Whatever you decide, do it 100 percent with no regrets. You have to have the guts to leave home and get out of your comfort zone.”

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