U.S. Soccer Team Wins Olympic Gold With Rapinoe In The Limelight

Victory! The Women's U.S. Soccer team just won the gold medal game 2-1 against Japan. The New York Times' Olympics blogroll reported the final play-by-play, which included the award ceremony (emphasis ours):

"Queen['s We Are The Champions] blares over the loudspeakers as the American players circle the
field with their flags and new T-shirts that say "Greatness has been found," whatever the heck that means.

The win seems to hit Rapinoe all at once; now she's crying and pointing into the stands. She was great in the Olympic tournament, and said her decision to come out as gay before it began freed her to play some of the best soccer of her career."

The Times may be referring to Rapinoe's recent interview with NBC, which followed up on our own recent profile of the soccer player in which she came out as a lesbian.

"I guess it seems like a weight off my shoulders," Rapinoe told the Olympic-hosting TV network Wednesday evening in regards to her coming out, "because I've been playing a lot better than I've ever played before. I think I'm just enjoying myself and I'm happy."

Ali Krieger is a currently-injured player on the U.S. women's national soccer team, so instead of competing she blogged about Olympic soccer for the Times, having the following to say about the star US player:

"Megan Rapinoe continually demonstrates her strengths for our team. She took control of the game on Monday and was not afraid to lead by example. Her service on free kicks was outstanding, and her timing on the clinical second goal of the match proved how important she is to this team."

The Women's Soccer team was already our favorite here at Out, who told us that in America "sports in general are still homophobic," and that "People want -- they need to see that there are people like me playing soccer for the good ol' U.S. of A."

Similarly, she told NBC that while being a gay woman in sports is acceptable with most teams and can "live a pretty open lifestyle without being open in the media," for men "unfortunately it's no the same climate in the locker room." Still she feels that it's only a matter time before we get to that point -- we would feel that way too if we were Megan Rapinoe right now!

Congratulations to her, the U.S. Women's Olympic soccer team, and all the Olympians competing for their country: Thank you!