Soccer's Inspiration: The Michelle Akers Story

"At this level almost everyone has the physical tools to be the best. It comes down to a few things: how bad you want it, what you do when things get hard, and whether you are able to stay focused amid turmoil, challenge, chaos and demands. It's all in your head and in your heart."

Michelle Akers walked onto the field like any other day, like any other game, like any other stadium. The grass was green, and the competition fierce, like it always was; there was just one thing left to do - play soccer. 1993, the Olympic Sports Festival of San Antonio rolled on, and then everything collapsed as Michelle Akers went straight to the ground. After recovering from several injuries thus far in her long soccer career (which debuted on 1985 in Denmark), it seemed at first glance that the resilient center-midfielder would bounce back eventually.

Then, the words CFIDS and the Epstein-Barr Virus stung fans' ears all around the world. Michelle Akers defines it as a 24-hour flu that leaves her weak and tired all the time. But, you know what? That didn't stop this determined player from doing the thing she loved the most - play soccer.

This love spurred her onto win the World Cup, despite the fact that she stumbled to the locker room before the ceremony to receive IV fluids. In 1998, she founded Soccer Outreach International, striving to seek out and inspire young people of all nations to become leaders of quality and character by using soccer and faith. Then, in 2000, she announced retirement, looking forward to a life as a mother who rescues abused horses and nurses them back to health.

A flash back on Michelle Aker's career as a soccer player is something special; she picked the sport when she was in the fourth grade, falling in love with soccer, even when it came to dribbling with dogs as defensemen, breaking windows and even fences with the ball.

When she grew into her high school shoes of Shorecrest High, she won a state championship as a junior in 1983. She received All-American honors and practiced with the boys' team and the girls'. Not being able to afford a higher level of soccer, she played club ball. Her talent level skyrocketing, she, a stubborn freshman-in-college-to-be, selected Central Florida as an ideal college based on the coach's attitude for the love of the game.

Michelle Akers scored 39 goals in nearly 26 national games from 1985 till 1991. Her total scoring record is 105 goals as she went on to pierce the back of the net in the World Cup championships in 1991 and 1999 with an Olympic gold medal in 1996.

It's amazing to think that this All-American, Gold medalist couldn't see the potential in herself when in High School. Now look at her! She is truly an inspiration in the World of Sport, as well as bringing hope to countless others by the books that she's written about her illness of CFIDS. The underlying factor of her drive and determination? She counts on the fact that her faith in God Almighty brought her through each time. She has learned to lean on Him even when her body gives way.

"It's all in your head and in your heart." - Michelle Akers