Chalupny Speaks

Well, it's a few days later than we'd thought, but we got some answers to your Blog questions for U.S. defender Lori Chalupny. We picked a few of the best questions and here is what Lori had to say to your inquires:

zoe said...

Hey Chupa!
Congrats again on the gold!!

Just wondering..what was going through your mind as the ref blew the whistle at the end of the gold medal game? what was the most special moment for you?

Chalupa: Hi Zoe, thanks for the question. I will never forget the moment the whistle blew. I had always dreamed of winning an Olympic gold but never really thought about the final whistle. To tell you the truth, I don't really remember what I was doing or what I was thinking. I was just overcome by emotion. It's hard to pick out a favorite moment from that day, but I think standing on the podium, singing our National Anthem and watching our flag being raised was the most emotional for me. It was a moment of such joy but also pride. I was so proud to be standing there with the other 17 girls.

Don from Warminster, PA said...

Hi Lori,
What a great job you and the team did in the Olympics and against Brazil. You and the girls played as a cohesive unit where Brazil seemed to play more like a group of individual stars. I saw that all of the games were very physical. Was there a team you played that was more chippy or trash talking than the others?

Chalupa: Thanks for the kind words, Don. We really felt like the strength of the team was how we played together. All 18 players contributed to us winning. We had scoring from so many different players and we really believed in each other. As far as the teams' being physical, it is more in the game plan of some teams to battle it out rather than try to break you down with skill, but every team is physical. When you are competing so hard and are playing on the edge you are bound to get a little rough.

Lefty's Lounge said...

Hi Chups,

My question for you is that after all you have been through since the beginning of 2007 after sitting out for 3 months and then all that happen before the Olympics, how has your resilience helped you play the way you did at the Olympics?

thanks,
Corey

Chalupa: Great question Corey, I think everyone playing at this level has to have some resilience and self belief. I think everyone on the National Team has had to deal the some huge setbacks in their career. Personally, the Olympics was emotionally very up and down. Not only losing the first game but also getting a concussion that held me out of the second was tough. I think the important thing is being able to look at the bigger picture. You have to know where you want to end up. As a team we always knew its not where you start but where you end that's important.

Zar000000 said...

Ms. Ginger Princess,

You truly are an awesome athlete and an inspiration to girls across the lands.

My question, I don't know if you played in the former WUSA but I'm sure you'll play in the new league forming, how does one reconcile feelings about playing against former teammates when the WNT gets fielded out to various pro teams? Or is everyone just that everyone is a professional and sucks it up, that's the way the ball dribbles?

Chalupa: We are all so excited to get the pro league started but you bring up a good point Zar000000. Although we have never played against each other in a real game, we play against each other everyday in practice so I don't think it will be a big deal. Even though it can get pretty intense on the field we are all pretty good at letting those things go.

yvonnet11 said...

I was amazed watching the team during the Olympics. Being around amazing athletes was probably an extra bonus. Which team USA athlete were you most excited to meet?

Chalupa: Thanks yvonnet11. One of my favorite things about the Olympics was staying in the Olympic village with all of the other athletes. It was pretty amazing to look around and see world-class athletes all over. It was really cool talking to the other U.S. athletes and hearing their stories. We got to go to some of the other events as well which was really neat. I think I was most in awe of the gymnasts, Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson.

She's Done It!

After 192 scoreless games for the U.S. Women's National Team, three Women's World Cup tournaments and three Olympic Games, Kate Markgarf finally got her first-ever international goal in the 31st minute of her 193rd cap. The players had decided before the three-game series against Ireland that if they got a penalty kick, they wanted Markgraf to take it. At first, when Natasha Kai was chopped down in the box, the U.S. co-captain was hesitant, but a quick word from co-captain Christie Rampne (basically, "you gotta take it") sent her to the penalty spot. Markgraf, with ice-water in her veins, cooly deposited the ball in the lower left corner by talented and six-foot Irish goalkeeper Emma Byrne. Mia Hamm would have been proud of the finish. So ends the longest streak in U.S. history of games without a goal, a record Markgraf is likely to hold, well, forever. But now, she is not the only player field player of note that has never scored a goal. She has erased the goose-egg and her caps/goals reads 193/1...and that's pretty cool. So, Stephanie Cox (51 caps/0 goals) you're up next! By the way, please feel free to post your CONGRATULATIONS to Kate on her first-ever goal. It was defnitely one of the best moments of the three-game tour.