Posted on August 5, 2012
By Michael Lewis
TropiGol.com Editor
MANCHESTER, England — After playing last year’s Women’s World Cup in pain, U.S. striker Abby Wambach says she is feeling great and pain free. In fact, the 32-year-old is thinking about playing through the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
“I’ve even been talking about for sure playing through the next Olympics, right now if my body can hold up,” Wambach said during a press conference that previewed Tuesday’s U.S.-Canada Olympic semifinal at Old Trafford on Sunday. “That makes me happy, because I love playing this game.”
She loves playing without pain.
“I am not in pain right now, which is awesome,” Wambach said. “So, I do think it does wear on you. The older you get, all these bumps and bruises, whatever, if you are dealing with Achilles tendinitis or coming back from some injury, it can mentally fatigue you. I will say it has been exhaustive for me to deal with, the pain of going day in and day out. For some reason it has eased over the last couple of weeks and I am happy.”
Wambach, who leads the U.S. with four goals, would play at the 2015 WWC in Canada if the pain stays away. She is second to former American forward Mia Hamm (158 goals) with 142 international goals.
“Being here and experiencing the Olympics, being in the World Cup last summer, there’s just something about it,” she said. “There’s an energy that I’m drawn to. The absolute amazing feeling of not knowing what’s going to happen, where you literally risk everything for it, for me, that’s what life is about. For me, that’s what I have been in search of, whether it is gold medals or championships. That’s why I’m here, so playing pain free is awesome.”
Categories: North America, Olympic Qualifying, U.S.A., Women
Tags: 2012 London Olympicsw, Abby Wambach
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