Current:Home > MarketsIn Olympic gold-medal match vs. Brazil, it was Mallory Swanson's turn to be a hero. -ThriveEdge Finance
In Olympic gold-medal match vs. Brazil, it was Mallory Swanson's turn to be a hero.
View
Date:2025-04-17 19:52:57
PARIS – Mallory Swanson yelled, loud as she could over the sellout crowd at Parc de Princes Stadium, at teammate Sophia Smith.
“I was like, ‘Don’t touch it!’" Swanson said.
For the United States women’s national soccer team at these 2024 Paris Olympics, much has been made of new head coach Emma Hayes finding the right formula at the top of the formation in forwards Trinity Rodman, Smith and Swanson.
In the gold-medal match Saturday against Brazil, it was Swanson’s turn to be the hero. Her goal in the 57th minute gave the Americans their third consecutive 1-0 victory and returned the USA to the top of the Olympic podium for the first time since the 2012 London Games.
Swanson had to call off Smith as midfielder Korbin Albert's through-ball skipped past the Brazil's line of defense. Had Smith's foot contacted the ball, the offside flag would go up – and only Swanson, playing in her 100th international match for the U.S. senior team, realized. This would have to be her play.
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
"It was scary," Smith joked afterward.
Swanson ran onto the ball, full head of steam. A few touches and a patient right-footed kick later, Swanson had broken the scoreless tie.
All game against Brazil, Swanson’s score had been percolating. Her speed was an advantage the U.S. took advantage of and she nearly scored in the first half by blowing past Brazil's defense on her lonesome. Surely, the USA breakthrough would come through the left side. This time, she would not be denied.
Each of "The Big Three" had taken their turn as the hero, too. Rodman scored in extra time in the quarterfinals against Japan. Smith did the same against Germany in the semis.
"We both kind of made the same run and I didn’t see her coming until she shouted and then I was like, 'Oh, yeah she has a better angle toward the goal, let me just get in the box and if she crosses it, I’ll be there and if it rebounds, whatever," Smith said. "But I had full faith in Mal that she was gonna put that away."
Swanson knew the responsibility rested on her shoulders. She'd been practicing that finish for a while, she said.
"I’m so happy for Mal," Rodman said. "Her (winning a gold medal) alone made me cry, to see what she’s been through to be here. I was emotional for others as well as myself, but it was just everything. I’m so happy."
A year ago, Swanson watched as the USWNT bowed out of the World Cup in the Round of 16. She'd torn her left patella tendon in April 2023 and missed nearly a year. The infection that affected her following surgery led to some of her darkest days on this planet, she said two days before a gold medal was placed along her neck.
But that was last summer. This was the "Summer of Mal" all along.
"Pure happiness," Smith said. "Mal’s a competitor, she’s a winner, to go through an injury like that is hard in itself, but to come back in the way that she did is even harder and she did it so gracefully. She did it just as Mal does everything, and it’s just been fun to watch and so much fun to play with her."
Swanson finished the tournament with four goals, second-most behind France’s Marie-Antoinette Katoto, to lead the U.S. (Rodman and Smith each had three).
"I think this group really just came together from the beginning of our pregame to know, we’ve grown so much," Swanson said. "That’s really cool to me, seeing that on and off the field. I think most importantly, you’re probably hearing it, we’re playing with joy. We’re having so much fun. I’m just so happy.
"I don’t think I’ve processed it yet," Swanson added. "It’ll probably hit in a couple days when I’m on my flight back home what happened. I’m just so thankful that I was able to do it with this group."
The USA TODAY app brings you every Team USA medal — right when it happens. Download for full Olympics coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and much more.
veryGood! (8545)
Related
- Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
- Why Hurricanes Are Much—Much—Deadlier Than Official Death Counts Suggest
- North West Jokes Mom Kim Kardashian Hasn't Cooked in 2 Years
- North West Jokes Mom Kim Kardashian Hasn't Cooked in 2 Years
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- North West Reveals Fake Name She Uses With Her Friends
- Climate Change Made Hurricane Milton Stronger, With Heavier Rain, Scientists Conclude
- Oregon's Traeshon Holden ejected for spitting in Ohio State player's face
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- North Carolina football's Tylee Craft dies at 23 after cancer battle
Ranking
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- Appeals court maintains block on Alabama absentee ballot restrictions
- Obama’s callout to Black men touches a nerve among Democrats. Is election-year misogyny at play?
- Pilot in deadly California plane crash didn’t have takeoff clearance, airport official says
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- Solar storm unleashes stunning views of auroras across the US: See northern lights photos
- Pat Woepse, husband of US women’s water polo star Maddie Musselman, dies from rare cancer
- Nevada high court to review decision in ex-Raiders coach Jon Gruden’s lawsuit over NFL emails
Recommendation
Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
Alabama corrections officer charged with smuggling meth into prison
Yamamoto outduels Darvish in historic matchup as Dodgers beat Padres 2-0 to reach NLCS
North West Jokes Mom Kim Kardashian Hasn't Cooked in 2 Years
As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
'NBA Inside Stuff' merged NBA and pop culture before social media. Now it gets HOF treatment.
Horoscopes Today, October 11, 2024
When will NASA launch Europa Clipper? What to know about long-awaited mission to Jupiter's moon