Kristine Lilly was used to winning finals.
She was part of the United States Women’s National Team that beat China in the final at both the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 1999 Women’s World Cup.
Lilly even cleared the ball off the line in the final in California.
But it didn’t go to plan a year later at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. USWNT lost the Gold medal match 3-2 in extra time to Norway.
“That was one of the most painful games of my life,” Lilly told the Best in the World with Richard Parr podcast. “Just really a heartbreaker because the whole big picture with it is in the first half we had so many chances, so many chances and we should have been up on them but like the game of soccer it doesn't always happen. And Norway is a good team, really good team and we tied it up with minutes left in the game to push it to overtime and I'm thinking ‘Oh my gosh, we're gonna win this thing.’
“Then overtime comes and back then it was Golden Goal which I really like but not being on the losing side of it.
“Dagny Mellgren who I end up playing with in the Pro Liga. She was at my Boston team. And so I was looking back and as the ball went down to her foot and took a shot, I could see the ball going in before it was in and my heart just broke. So it was a pretty devastating loss, I have to say, and one that we didn't forget.”
Four years later, Team USA regained their Olympic title in Athens. After scoring 130 international goals, Lilly’s trophy cabinet ended up including 2 Olympic Gold medals, and one Silver, along with two World Cup Gold medals and three Bronze. Lilly now has a far different opinion on that silver medal these days.
“It's the prettiest medal I have. The silver and the blue ribbon really look good together. But it is the most painful and I tell the story about it a lot and I think the biggest part of it for me is when we were up there, as a teammate, you don't want to let your teams down and then as a child or sister of family, you don't want to let your family down in that game. After we lost my parents were there. And it took me forever to look over to the family section. Like we had the podium up there. And they were standing up there and I was like, I don't want to look over there because I don't want to let my parents down ‘cause we lost.
“Every time I talk about this, I get so choked up. It's so funny. But the thing was when I finally looked over there, they were so proud. And for me, I love telling this story to kids, because it doesn't matter if you win or lose. I mean, it matters, but it doesn't. Like your parents are gonna still love you. The sun's still gonna come out. The birds are gonna sing and life's gonna go on.
“So you just have to remember that and remember the pain and try to just make sure to smile the next time you play a game because it's gonna happen, life, there's gonna be so many ups and downs.”
You can listen to Kristine’s full interview on the Best in the World with Richard Parr podcast on Apple and Spotify.
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On the ‘Best In the World’ Podcast, Richard Parr talks to sports stars who have reached the pinnacle.
World Champions, Olympic Champions, World Record Holders & World Number Ones.
The show reveals what these athletes do differently from the rest of us to be the best. This includes training techniques, nutrition, relationships, sacrifices, mental health, time management, home environment and much more.
Richard wants to know what they do so we can improve our own lives.
Connect with Richard on social media @richard_parr.