Prolebrity: Beyond the Game

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Victory Tour

What an amazing year it’s been! It’s crazy to think I couldn’t even jog a year ago due to my ACL injury and now I’m a gold medalist. All I wanted was to give myself a chance to make the Olympic roster. I guess everything does happen for a reason!

I wanted to be a part of this team because I knew the chemistry was so special and good things were to come. Even after losing 3 players to injuries, including our goal scorer and one of the best in the world in Abby Wambach. I know a lot of people counted us out — especially after losing the first game against Norway.

We can now thank all the doubters because it just made us want it more. It gave us that extra motivation we needed. We were underdogs for the first time in a long time and we loved it. What’s to lose? We only had everything to gain. This team has been living in the shadow of the women who got us on the map since they retired. It’s just nice to say we made our own history. I know we couldn’t have done it without all the amazing fans, so thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Winning this gold medal is the best feeling in my life. Winning in Athens was awesome but this one means so much more to me personally. Between coming back from injury, losing our best player, actually starting and playing, losing the first game and then beating our rival, Brazil. It doesn’t get much sweeter than that. There was never a moment I doubted we wouldn’t win and we did it with the contribution of 18 players.

In OT, when we looked over and saw the Brazilians sitting on the ground, exhausted and some cramping … it gave us that extra motivation. We knew if we kept pressing we would get one. Thanks to Carli Lloyd, we beat one of the best teams of all times. Marta really is the most impressive player I’ve ever played against. Between her and Cristiane we had our hands full the entire game. Luckily for me, Christie Rampone was there to back me up if I got beat, and Kate Markgraff and Lori Chalupny shut down the left side. Our defense was sick and not to mention Hope Solo came up with some huge saves. Brazil is so talented and we couldn’t have asked for a better ending.

After the win, it was a whirlwind and has continued to be. That’s why it’s taken me so long to write! We were whisked away the day after the final to do media then we celebrated til we left China the day after the closing ceremony. I spent a few days in LA before heading to Philly. The team heads to Chicago on Wednesday for Oprah next. Then the Victory Tour begins here in the states for 10 games across the country. We start off by playing Ireland on Sept 13th at Lincolin Financial in Philadelphia. Then, Sept 17th at the Meadowlands in NJ and Sept 20th in Chicago at Toyota Park. The rest will be announced shortly and I will post them on the site so stayed tuned!

Thanks to Dr. Tibone, my surgeon, to Omi Iwasaki, my therapist, James Galanis, my soccer trainer and Pia Sundhage, my coach. I couldn’t have been back playing if it weren’t for them. I owe them everything. Thanks to you all for the continued support. It kept me going and I appreciate everything so very much. This gold is for you. Chat soon!

-Heather