|
Mary Abigail "Abby" Wambach is an American professional soccer player, coach, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year. She currently plays for Western New York Flash in the National Women's Soccer League and for the United States women's national soccer team. She played collegiate soccer for the University of Florida Gators, where she was a member of the school's first NCAA Division I Championship team and was recognized as a three-time All-American.
A six-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award, Wambach has been a regular on the U.S. women's national soccer team since 2003. As a forward, she currently stands as the highest all-time goal scorer for the national team and holds the world record for international goals for both female and male soccer players with 167 goals. Wambach has competed in three FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments: 2003 in the United States, 2007 in China and 2011 in Germany; and two Olympics tournaments: 2004 in Athens and 2012 in London. All together, she has played in 29 matches and scored 22 goals at these five international tournaments.
Wambach is known for scoring goals on diving headers, a technique she began honing as a youth in her hometown of Rochester, New York. One of her most notable diving header goals occurred in the 122nd minute of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup quarterfinal match against Brazil. Wambach scored the equalizer in stoppage time helping the Americans to eventually progress to the championship final against Japan after defeating Brazil in penalty kicks. Her last-minute goal set a new record for latest goal ever scored in a match and was awarded ESPN's 2011 ESPY Award for Best Play of the Year. Following her performance at the 2011 World Cup, she was awarded the tournament's Bronze Boot and Silver Ball. When the Associated Press named her Athlete of the Year, she became the first individual soccer player ever — man or woman — to receive the award. July 20 was named "Abby Wambach Day" in Rochester and she was given a key to the city.
|
