Akers Retires from International Play

O R L A N D O, Fla., Aug. 24 -- Michelle Akers, an original member of theU.S. women’s national soccer team, retired from internationalcompetition today, less than a month before the start of theOlympic tournament.

Akers, 34, a speedy, talented midfielder who battled injurythrough most of her career, said she was stepping down due to aninjured shoulder and a lengthy battle with Chronic FatigueSyndrome.

She said she still planned to play for the new WUSA franchise inOrlando, which starts play next April.

“After winning the gold medal in 1996, I promised myself tonever again play in the condition I was in during those Olympicgames,” said Akers, who played in the first U.S. women’s nationalteam match in 1985 and was the top scorer with 10 goals at theinaugural Women’s World Cup in 1991.

“Since then, retirement has been a big issue with me and thedecision to continue on with the national team has always been aprayerful and careful one. This year was no exception, and afterthe 1999 World Cup, I wrestled for months about whether to play ornot, but eventually I decided to go for it.”

Painful Shoulder Injury

Akers retires as the all-time leading scorer of the Women'sWorld Cup (12 goals), and as one of only four players in historywith 100 or more career goals. With 105 goals, 37 assists and 247total points, she trails only Mia Hamm in all-time scoring for theU.S. national team.

But Akers also has had more than a dozen knee operations, and struggled to returnfrom a shoulder injury and ensuing surgery in early April. Thatinjury forced her to miss nearly all of the Olympic preparationmatches. She returned to the team in July, but re-injured hershoulder against Russia Aug. 15.

“The shoulder injury has definitely been one of the toughestever,” Akers said. “Not only because of the physical pain, thesurgery, and the rehabilitation, but because of the mental anguishthat goes along with trying to come back in a short time frame tomake the Olympic team and then having to deal with setback aftersetback, and complication after complication.