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Julie Foudy played on the U.S. womens national team for 17 years and won two Olympic gold medals during that time. Her first, in Atlanta in 1996, was especially meaningful, because it was also soccers debut as an Olympic sport.They said womens soccer would never get a World Cup -- or be in the Olympics. But in 1991, we got that World Cup. And in 1993, we found out wed get to be an Olympic sport. We were so pumped. My teammates and I had been fighting for it, so we were very excited get womens soccer in the Olympics -- and to have it in our home country.The crowd went absolutely berserk when the U.S. athletes walked in during the opening ceremony. We were the last country because we were the host nation. Youre waiting forever and waiting forever and then you finally get to go. We were rocking really cute red blazers and little white hats with red trim. (I still have the blazer.)I think Bruce Willis and Demi Moore were the first people we saw on the sideline and we high-fived. I was like, How cool is that? Theyre with their kids, high-fiving people. I dont think I realized how special it was to be in your own country at the time because it was our first Olympics.In the semifinal against Norway, we wanted to show the United States how cool our team was. The crowd was huge -- 64,000 fans -- and this was a period when we were still fighting to get recognition and support, so this was our chance to showcase this group.We had lost to Norway in the World Cup the year before and had to watch the Norwegians do this whole slow centipede victory march after they won, and that was still on our minds. How dare they do that? So we get a chance to get them again -- which we were ecstatic about -- and this time around we knew we werent going to fall to them.At halftime we were down a goal and I remember walking into the locker room and feeling like, Were fine. It was just a totally different atmosphere from the year before. This time, in the end, we got to finish them off.It can get super emotional when youre playing at home. The challenge was not being too pumped because you get so excited and so over-hyped. You dont want to be on this roller coaster of emotions, similar to a sugar high where you come crashing back down.The stadium was packed with more than 76,000 fans for the final against China and we had never really had that before, so you can imagine the excitement. It was always the challenge of appreciating the moment and soaking it in, which we were good at, but not letting that moment drain your energy. We actually talked about it a lot.We knew China was very good. The players were skillful, fit and well-trained, but we also knew this: We could be stronger than them mentally.I might have missed the dog pile. Shannon MacMillan scored the first goal -- and it was key to get in there and get a goal early to calm the nerves. After she scored, I just remember Mac sliding headfirst into the turf and all of us sliding in behind her. I think I ended up a little short of the celebration. Maybe I thought the grass was a little wetter than it was.When we won, we were up there on the podium, belting the national anthem at the top of our lungs. I remember thinking, does it get any better than this? Youre with your best buddies who youve worked so hard with, and to win the first-ever womens soccer gold in your home country, it was insane. It was surreal.We knew right away that people were mad. Only highlights of the final were aired on NBC -- not the whole game. Here you have a packed stadium with chanting Americans and I remember thinking, Wow, that tells you something. Theyre pretty set in how they cover sports and there will be a paradigm shift after this.At the 2000 Olympics, NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol pulled us all in and apologized for not covering us more in 96. He said, We missed out on that one and I take the blame.There was really a feeling that this could be a pivotal moment for women in sports in this country. All of these women in Atlanta -- some we knew, some we didnt -- we all had similar struggles in terms of acceptance and popularity and Title IX. Here we were collectively so successful, which isnt surprising given that many of us had been given the opportunity to play thanks to Title IX. After having to fight for so much, we thought maybe this was the breakthrough that was needed to get people watching and paying attention.On off days at the Olympics we had to be off our feet, so we would lie down and watch all the other sports on TV. We would watch and cheer the other women on all day. That was super fun. I was ecstatic for softball, for basketball, for the gymnasts, knowing that we all had worked so damn hard to get there.The 1996 Olympics also set the stage for the 99 World Cup to happen. At the time, FIFA did not want a big 99 World Cup. They wanted to keep it regional in smaller stadiums in the East. And U.S. Soccer said, No, we want to go big.That 1996 Olympic team somehow had the confidence to keep saying, We can do better. We can do more. We can do bigger. We should set the standard. Thats what I loved about that group.There was always a shared belief that this could be a tipping point for sport and women. And we helped tip it. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. Born and raised in Toronto, Bradwell is entering his sixth CFL season, with all six played for his hometown Argonauts. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Having already announced that the race will start May 9 with three stages in Northern Ireland and Ireland and finish in Trieste on June 1, the rest of the route was unveiled Monday. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. EVIAN-LES-BAINS, Germany -- Jerome Boateng has been a central figure in Germanys advance to the quarterfinals of the European Championship without conceding a goal, so its a huge relief for his team that a calf injury wont keep him out of Saturdays quarterfinal against Italy.Boateng has helped set the tone for his side at Euro 2016 -- at both ends of the field.It all started with a spectacular goal-line clearance against Ukraine when Germany was only 1-0 up. Germany went on to win the match 2-0 but it could have all been so different had Ukraine got on level terms.Boateng then helped contain his Bayern Munich teammate Robert Lewandowski in the scoreless draw with Poland, and marshalled the backline in the 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland in the final group game.Boatengs defensive strengths are well-chronicled.Whats not is his scoring prowess.But against Slovakia in the round of 16, the 27-year-old central defender gave his sides misfiring attack a helping hand by opening the scoring with his first international goal in 63 appearances.Boateng has been spoken of as a potential player of the tournament. Hes not convinced.Sure, a defender can also score a goal or play a good game, but I think it will always stay like that that, the offensive plaayers are more in focus, he said Thursday at the teams tournament base in Evian-les-Bains.ddddddddddddThere have been some concerns that a calf injury would mean he miss the encounter with Italy.The calf is very well and good for Saturday, he said.Boatengs participation in Euro 2016 had been in doubt earlier this year after he suffered a muscle injury to his left leg in January.The long layoff, though, has clearly not been a hindrance.Boateng insists that he wont change the way he plays even though another yellow card would see him suspended from any potential semifinal against either France or Iceland.Ill go in like I always go in, he said.Boatengs inspired performances at Euro 2016 have come just weeks after he found himself in the middle of a racism controversy off the field.A top member of a rising German nationalist party reportedly told a national newspaper that many people wouldnt want to live next to Boateng, who was born in Berlin to a father from Ghana.The remarks drew widespread protests and prompted fans to unfurl a banner reading Jerome be our neighbor! at Germanys friendly against Slovakia last month. 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