U.S. women's team is playing with joy again, and so is my sister. Watch out, world.

PARIS — On Saturday afternoon, my brother Sean and I stood along the fence at Parc des Princes, dehydrated and jet-lagged, waving our arms frantically while shouting our sister’s name. One thing they don’t tell you about having a family member in the Olympics is how much time you’ll spend trying to get their attention. There are no credentials to identify you as a sibling. Security was about to kick us out.

But at the last moment, we caught her eye. Sam Coffey — not just our little sister, but an Olympic gold medalist — jogged over and collapsed into my brother’s arms. I collapsed on top of them. We didn’t say anything. We just hugged and cried.
That moment made everything worth it. The flurry of time zones crossed, the 12-hour plane ride, the thousands of dollars spent returning to France.

“What is happening right now?” she asked shortly after the U.S. defeated Brazil, 1-0, to win gold. We didn’t have any answers. My brother gave her an American flag, which she draped around her shoulders, and she was off.

Sam has played on the U.S. women’s national soccer team on and off since 2022. Her journey has not always been smooth. She was respected, but never given a full chance. It was difficult for her to compete for roster spots and playing time among more veteran players.


https://www.inquirer.com/soccer/sam-coffey-sister-uswnt-olympics-gold-paris-20240812.html