Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Monday 12 June 2017
Happily Abby after: Wambach finds sober life, wedded bliss

ANNE M. PETERSON also signed a deal with
AP Sports Writer ESPN. But then she was ar-
Even Abby Wambach is as- rested.
tonished when she reflects Wambach came to the
on her year. She went from realization that her life was
publicly acknowledging a out of control. Her marriage
problem with alcohol and was on the rocks, and she
prescription pills to get- was wrestling with her re-
ting sober and marrying a tirement and her direction.
“Christian mommy blog- She took full responsibil-
ger.” ity for driving drunk. She
The biggest stunner? She pleaded guilty, agreeing to
doesn’t miss soccer a bit. enter a diversion program
“I played soccer until the for first-time offenders that
end,” she said. “I played it included treatment.
and I did it as well as I pos- She wrote her book, a ca-
sibly could for as long as I thartic exercise. She fell
could. I don’t miss any of in love. And, she says, she
my old life.” found her voice. Earlier
The game’s most prolific this year Wambach was
international scorer was ar- named an advocate for
rested in Portland, Oregon, the United Nations’ Equal
last year and charged Pay Platform of Champi-
with driving under the in- ons, which promotes wage
fluence. Her mugshot was In this Wednesday, July 13, 2016, file photo, former soccer player Abby Wambach, accepts the equity across the globe.
icon award at the ESPY Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
splashed all over the news Associated Press “Pain is a traveling pro-
just 10 months after she cel- fessor. It knocks on every-
ebrated winning the 2015 woman, Glennon Doyle announced her marriage The FIFA World Player of the body’s door. And the wis-
Women’s World Cup with Melton. was ending. She shocked Year in 2012, Wambach ap- est people I know are the
the U.S. national team. Melton is a celebrity in even more last November peared in four World Cups ones that say, ‘C’mon in, sit
Last September, she came her own right. She is the when she posted a photo with the national team. She down and don’t leave un-
clean in her book “For- woman behind Momastry, of her new love: “Her name also has two Olympic gold til you’ve taught me what I
ward,” a confessional a blog that took off after is Abby. You might recog- medals. need to know.’ And that’s
memoir in which she said she posted an entry titled nize her from soccer.” She finished her career at what I did,” Wambach said.
she abused vodka and “Don’t Carpe Diem.” In it Wambach’s own mar- the end of 2015 with 184 “The truth is that pain is the
pills, including Vicodin, Am- she imagined what she’d riage to Sarah Huffman international goals, more very thing that allowed me
bien and Adderall. like to say to the strug- had crumbled earlier in the than any player, male or the space to open my arms
“I accepted who I was. gling mom in line at Target: year, strained by the alco- female. and hear to this new love
I accepted the mistakes “’It’s helluva hard, isn’t it? hol and pills, as well as the Wambach became more and this family.”
that I made,” she told The You’re a good mom. I can time spent from home be- active in social and politi- Wambach married Melton
Associated Press about the tell. And I like your kids, es- cause of her job. cal issues late in her soccer in May, simultaneously ful-
aftermath of both the arrest pecially that one peeing Wambach retired from soc- career, and has been out- filling her dream to have
and the public confession. in the corner. She’s my fa- cer at the end of 2015. She spoken about gender eq- children.
“The No. 1 thing I could do vorite. Carry on, warrior. Six capped her illustrious ca- uity in particular. She led a “A year and a half ago
for myself was to start loving hours till bedtime.’” reer with the sport’s most group of players in protest- when I was really struggling
myself again. The choice to It was shared more than 4 prestigious championship ing FIFA’s decision to play and pretty sick, If you were
do that saved my life.” million times. when the United States de- the 2015 Women’s World to tell me I’d be a step-
Wambach is now sober Melton went on to become feated Japan 5-2 at the Cup on artificial turf, which mom and sober and living
and her life has been best-selling author and an World Cup in Canada. It is considered by many to in Florida and as happy
turned upside down — in a in-demand public speaker. was the third World Cup be inferior to grass. as I’ve ever been, I would
good way. During a book But she shocked some of title for the U.S. women and She had intended to con- have called you a liar,” she
tour, she met another sober her fans last year when she first since 1999. tinue that work, and she mused. q
Fireworks, honors in Usain

Bolt’s farewell in Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) and Jamaican Prime Minis- world record of 9.58., but
— World record holder ter Andrew Holness. equal to his first 100-meter
Usain Bolt has bid farewell The IAAF website quoted race 10 years ago.
to the tracks of his na- Coe as saying he was there The 30-year-old Bolt is the
tive Jamaica, winning a “just to thank someone only runner to win gold at
100-meter race amid fire- who has changed the face 100 and 200 meters in three
works and honors. of our sport, and has en- consecutive Olympics.
Some 30,000 people at- couraged so many young
tended the JN Racers people to our sport.” Holness tweeted: “Salut-
Grand Prix race, labeled Bolt finished Saturday ing a legend. Thank you @ Jamaica’s Usain Bolt celebrates after winning the “Salute to a
“Tribute to a Legend.” night’s 100-meter sprint with usainbolt for all you have Legend “ 100 meters during the Racers Grand Prix at the na-
Among them were IAAF a time of 10.03, well short done for the sport of athlet- tional stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, Saturday, June 10, 2017.
President Sebastian Coe of his nearly eight-year-old ics and Jamaica.”q Associated Press