This summer, Arlington resident and former聽U.S. women鈥檚 soccer goalkeeper Briana Scurry will be going聽to the 2016 Olympics in Rio 鈥� this time, as a commentator.
Scurry played in the 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympic games聽and received two gold medals and one silver medal. She was also a key member of the 1999 World Cup-winning U.S. women鈥檚 national team.
With her playing career behind her, Scurry has been living in Ballston for the past two years, when she鈥檚 not traveling to聽speaking engagements across the country.
鈥淚 love the hustle and bustle of Arlington,鈥� she said.
Scurry, who served as an 聽during the 2011 Women鈥檚 World Cup, will be traveling to Rio in August to lend her expert commentary to Olympics coverage, including offering pre-game and post-game analysis.
鈥淓ver since I was a little girl I wanted to be an Olympian and I was very lucky to play in three,鈥� she said.
The Olympics is always an exciting time for Scurry, even when she is not playing in it.聽The U.S. women鈥檚 soccer team have the opportunity to win their fourth gold medal in a row this summer, and Scurry thinks the team has a great shot in doing exactly that, despite some聽pivotal players currently being injured.
鈥淐omplete and total dominance would be wonderful,鈥� said Scurry.
Scurry has had such an聽impact on the U.S. Women鈥檚 National Soccer Team鈥檚 program that early last year, she was selected to be a permanent part of the 聽Title IX exhibit, which will be opening on September 24.
鈥淲hen they called and asked if I would be willing to be in the museum, I couldn鈥檛 even begin to describe my聽humility. I couldn鈥檛 believe it because that meant my passion and body of work as a soccer player was good enough to be considered as something that was helping my race. It is really humbling to know that,鈥� said Scurry.
Before moving to Ballston, Scurry lived in D.C.鈥檚 Adams Morgan neighborhood, where she was starting聽her concussion recovery. In 2010, Scurry retired from her professional soccer career due to a season-ending concussion. (She currently serves as of the 聽soccer team.)
Now an advocate for concussion awareness,聽Scurry will be testifying before Congress about traumatic brain injuries next week.
鈥淚t took me three years to finally find the right doctor,鈥� said Scurry. 鈥淣ow I鈥檓 an advocate because if I can go through this much trouble, as an Olympic gold medalist and athlete and I was misdiagnosed and shuffled around, I can only imagine鈥� what others are going through.
Briana Scurry can be followed on 听辞谤 .
