Ali Krieger, who will compete in her first Olympics with the U.S. Women’s National Team, spoke to BuzzFeed News about trying to make history, the Zika epidemic, and equal pay.
Ali Krieger
Tony Gutierrez / AP Photo
With the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro less than one month away, several athletes — most of them male golfers — have opted out citing concerns over the Zika virus, but not so for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT).
Having won the World Cup last year, they became the first women’s team to win three titles. And as they prepare for Rio, they now have their sights set another another milestone: Becoming the first soccer team ever to win Olympic gold directly after winning a World Cup championship.
BuzzFeed News recently spoke to Ali Krieger, one of the pillars of the USWNT’s defense, about how she’s preparing for the Games amid concerns over the Zika epidemic, as well as domestic issues regarding equal pay for soccer players.
After narrowly missing out on the 2008 and 2012 games, this will be her first Olympics.
Krieger, a 31-year-old Virginia native, was selected as an alternate for 2008 Team USA, and was unable to play in 2012 because of an injury.
“I was on the doorstep and now, after three tries, it’s finally happened,” she said. “Having this experience, suffering from injury and being unsure if I would make it back to the highest level, I’m ready to go and win gold for Team USA again.”
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