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In Sports, Expect the Unexpected – Especially in the Olympics

© Michelle Parke

No one expected the U.S. Women's Volleyball to survive pool play. No one expected the U.S. Women's Softball to bounce back from three straight losses to win gold. And no one expected the U.S. Women's Soccer to come home with a silver medal rather than a gold. These surprises are what make sports great. The U.S. Women's Soccer entered the Olympics with over 35 international games under their belts in preparation for the Games and had seen its ups and downs in these games. Despite the huge success of the 1999 World Cup, there were a lot of changes made to the team including a new coaching staff and some new faces. The team was a not a shoe-in for a gold medal because of its ups and downs and the pool in which it was entered. The Olympic pool the U.S. found themselves was aptly named the "pool of death" because China, Norway, the U.S. and Nigeria were the four teams in the pool. The U.S. soundly defeated Norway, its rival, in game one. Norway entered the competition as the only team with a winning record against the U.S. Next, the U.S. found itself in a rematch against China who they also faced in the championship of the World Cup and the 1996 gold medal game. This time, the teams tied in an evenly matched game. Nigeria took on the U.S. in the third and final match of pool play and lost 3-1. In another close game, the U.S. squeeked out a 1-0 victory over Brazil. In the gold medal match, Norway defeated the U.S. when it counted. Norway eliminated China in a surprising upset and beat Germany in a close game. It seems Norway had the momentum to win the gold. Like the Norweigans 1995 World Cup victory over the U.S., this loss will linger over the women of the National Team until they are able to avenge this loss. The 1995 loss was motivation for the team to improve. As a result, they went to Atlanta on a mission and continued this determination in the 1999 World Cup. Will this loss motivate the team like that again? Let's hope so. But let's not forget, they won a silver medal and that's nothing to be ashamed of by any means. They are still a team of talented athletes and great role models. They represented their country very well at these Olympics and we should be proud of their accomplishments.