Nov 18, 2024Well-liked Texas ATC may be forced to leave country without renewed visa
A Texas athletic trainer, who’s well-liked in the athletics industry, may be forced to move back to Italy if she is unable to secure a visa.
For the last 18 months, Ursula Heyner has been a sports performance coach at Sports Academy in the North Texas area. She began as an intern and turned it into a full-time job, as she helps train some of the top pros in sports.
However, she’s been unable to work since August because her H-3 visa expired. Heyner was born in Naples, Italy, and received her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and Master’s degree in Sports Management from Parthenope University of Naples.
A recent article from WFAA.com detailed Heyner’s career in both Italy and Texas. Below is an excerpt from the WFAA.com story.
“I was determined to turn my passion for athletics into a profession,” Heyner said. “It soon became clear that my true call was coaching. I spent four years working with professional athletes in Italy, crafting my skills and building a network while dreaming of one day bringing my expertise to the United States.”
In May 2022, Heyner moved to North Texas for an internship on a J-1 visa, joining the training staff at Sports Academy.
“I shadowed seasoned professionals and began training NFL and NBA athletes,” Heyner described. “I focused on enhancing their speed, power, reactivity and strength while promoting overall health.”
Following the internship, she returned to the U.S. in January 2023 as a full-time employee on an H-3 visa — and launched right into helping college athletes prepare for the NFL Combine.
“We achieved remarkable success, including a record-breaking defensive lineman 40-yard-dash time with [Tampa Bay Buccaneers] first-round pick Calijah Kancey,” Heyner noted. “My role quickly expanded to include training high-profile NFL athletes such as Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary, New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez and Cleveland Browns safety Grant Delpit.
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Heyner’s role continued to expand and her respect continued to grow in the training community. In the 2024 NFL offseason, she helped train Cincinnati Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson.
To read the full story from WFAA.com, click here.
