Get to know the Matildas: Why is Alex Chidiac obsessed with penguins?

Alex Chidiac's love for penguins was simultaneous with her first breath.

Her love for the aquatic flightless bird captured fans of the game's attention last month when the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 mascot was revealed.

Tazuni is a Eudyptula penguin species - or little penguin as they are affectionately known - endemic to the host nations Australia and New Zealand's coastlines to symbolise the unity between the co-hosts.

Chidiac could not contain her excitement, her favourite animal would be the mascot for the Matildas' home World Cup. What were the chances?

She sat with her thoughts for more than 24 hours before typing a three-tweet thread praising the choice of animal to represent the tournament.

Her long-awaited first meeting with Tazuni came on Wednesday at a suburban football field in Melbourne for FIFA's launch of its volunteer program for next year's tournament. Chidiac came dressed in one of her two penguin onesies - a treasured gift from her brother four years ago - to mark the occasion.

The 23-year-old was disappointed she had to take it off to conduct official duties but was over the moon when she got the chance to explain where the origin of her love story for the black and white bird began.

It all started when she was born on January 15, 1999 in Sydney.

Chidiac was gifted an Emperor Penguin plush toy at birth, that affectionately goes by the name 'Mama Penguin', and she has been by the attacking midfielder's side ever since.

The toy is her second shadow and has travelled more miles than most, following Chidiac to Melbourne for the national camp this week ahead of Australia's game against Sweden.

It followed her to Kentucky for her NWSL debut for Racing Louiseville, to Spain for her two-year stint at Atletico Madrid, to Japan for her time at JEF United Chiba, and to South Australia when she played for Adelaide United.

And there is a sweet reason behind why she follows the Melbourne Victory player on her travels.

"It's meant to be like my mum when my mum's not there because I travel so much," Chidiac explained.

"And then my mum has like a small one, and she gets that so that's meant to be me. So we're just adorable.

"It's named Capouya because she was in Papua New Guinea and that was the name of someone that she met over there. And she was like, I like that name."

Last season's A-League Women's Championship winning player has a collection of soft toys that travel with her that she had added to over the years, which includes a duck, dog, koala, a bear and another smaller penguin to keep Mama Penguin company.

All five of them are treated to an array of choices from streaming services on Chidiac's laptop while she is out training or playing, yet sometimes she brings them out for adventures of their own.

Although she erred on the side of caution when it came to her first meeting with Tazuni.

Mainly because Chidiac herself wanted to be able to fully embrace the moment of meeting next year's World Cup mascot herself.

"I was gonna bring (Mama Penguin), but I thought it'd be a little bit too much because I needed to be able to embrace Tazuni," she said.

"So next time we hang out I will. We'll have like a little tea or something, I have not got to know Tazuni yet and know what she likes, but I'm terrified of water and I know she probably likes water.

"We saw today with Tazuni how well we connected, so I'm happy about that."

Hugging Tazuni was a highlight for her but it fell short of her ultimate goal, which is to hug a real-life penguin.

It's top of Chidiac's bucket list.

Her partner of three years, Erin Clout, tried to make it a reality with a gift to a penguin experience at a local marine centre but it fell just short.

"My number one thing is to hug a penguin. Like yes, I got to hug Tazuni and that is a step in the right direction but hugging a penguin would be incredible," Chidiac admitted.

"My partner bought me a penguin pass where you get to go in to learn about the penguins and all of that. That's cute, right? But when you actually went into the enclosure, I wasn't able to touch them.

"I just want to hold a penguin and I couldn't do that, so that was really upsetting. I think we need to get that changed.

"I'm not saying that I want to go in and like ruffle the penguin, that's not it. I'd love to walk with it, give it some high fives and then let it just sit on my lap if it wants to hang out, I will not force it."

Her love for the feathered animal clearly has progressed beyond her prized toy and the more she digs into the animal, the more she loves it.

They are, admittingly, her spirit animal.

The No. 22's favourite things about them include their lifelong partnerships and the fact they used to be a lot bigger.

"They are the best animals in the world," Chidiac exclaims.

"I've been doing research all my life on penguins.

"In Australia, the most common ones are the fairy penguins, which is what Tazuni is. I have seen one in real life and that was in Adelaide, it was one of the best days. It was on New Year's Day and I spotted it and I was like, 'I see you buddy', it was great.

"There's like some that mate together for life, which is really beautiful and it makes me really happy. So there's that one.

"They used to be really giant so they've actually shrunk as evolution has gone on which is quite strange.

"They were like human size, which I would love to see one like that now, but unfortunately, they're not around anymore."

Originally published for Optus Sport on November 11, 2022