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Michelle Akers
Scoring ten goals at the first Women’s World Cup and helping the United States win again in 1999.
Golden Shoe · Olympic champion
- Born
- 1 February 1966
- Birthplace
- Santa Clara, California, United States
More people
Michelle Akers
Michelle Akers is an American former footballer who excelled first as a goalscoring forward and later in midfield.
Early life
Washington upbringing
She grew up in Shoreline near Seattle and played for Shorecrest High School.
College career
She starred at the University of Central Florida.
Career
- 1985
National-team beginnings
She joined the first United States women’s national team.
- 1991
World Cup breakthrough
Her goals powered the United States to the inaugural title.
- 1990s
Midfield role
She adapted her position while managing chronic fatigue syndrome.
- 2000
International retirement
She ended a national-team career spanning fifteen years.
Achievements
Golden Shoe
Ten goals made her the first Women’s World Cup top scorer.
Olympic champion
The United States won the first women’s Olympic football tournament.
Second World Cup
She helped the team regain the title on home soil.
Beyond football
Horse rescue
After football she established a horse-rescue operation.
Health
She has spoken about the challenges of competing with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Official career history and recognition ↗Photo: Bryan Berlin. CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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