University of Manitoba Athletics

An international 2018 recruit for the Bison’s women’s soccer team, Tatiana Palacio-Ceron is a world traveller. Hailing from Bogota, Colombia, Palacio has graced pitches in her home country, Portugal, Mexico, the United States and now Canada. 

She was around for the development of a university women’s soccer league in Colombia, representing the Universidad del Rosario in her hometown of Bogota.

Palacio balanced both athletic and academic responsibilities during that time, yet her dream of playing professional soccer brought her to one of the most prestigious youth academies of one of the world’s most illustrious clubs: FC Porto. 

Their international school – named Dragon Force Bogota – had accepted Palacio into their program, an experience with she hails as “one of the best experiences in my soccer career in my country.”

“With FC Porto, I had the chance to play against some of the best teams and players of the country in some important and highly competitive tournaments,” Palacio recalls.

She had stints with Equidad Seguros and America de Cali - clubs that were inducted into the women’s pro soccer league pyramid - when the opportunity to immigrate to Canada came about. Palacio opted to accept the challenge of learning and playing soccer in a new continent.

“The opportunity arose, and thinking about my future as a professional as well as a professional soccer player, I decided to take the challenge, to learn new things and to experience North American soccer."