Abby Wambach

They were just like always like blocking the ball for me and like being their age, not just like bowing down to the little kid. And I think that part of like what made me so good is this desire, this like insatiable desire to win, to prove myself that I was like one of them. And with that also came a lot of probably not healthy behaviors.

But I do think that there was a part of me that as a kid, I was just like pretty risk taking. I was fearless. Like they would call it Abby alert. I would just like run away. I would like hide. I didn't like have a ton of fear that that troubled me. So and then I had athleticism. My brothers and sisters even now tell me. Like you were ripped, like you had triceps and quads and stuff at two.

But I do think that there was a part of me that as a kid, I was just like pretty risk taking. I was fearless. Like they would call it Abby alert. I would just like run away. I would like hide. I didn't like have a ton of fear that that troubled me. So and then I had athleticism. My brothers and sisters even now tell me. Like you were ripped, like you had triceps and quads and stuff at two.

But I do think that there was a part of me that as a kid, I was just like pretty risk taking. I was fearless. Like they would call it Abby alert. I would just like run away. I would like hide. I didn't like have a ton of fear that that troubled me. So and then I had athleticism. My brothers and sisters even now tell me. Like you were ripped, like you had triceps and quads and stuff at two.

And I'm like, is that possible? And they're like, yes. So I guess I was just like this rambunctious kid who, and now after much therapy and looking back, was just really vying for the attention of my mom. Really like seven people. We're vying for that attention. Not possible. I mean, I'm glad they had seven kids because I wouldn't be here otherwise. But it was hard.

And I'm like, is that possible? And they're like, yes. So I guess I was just like this rambunctious kid who, and now after much therapy and looking back, was just really vying for the attention of my mom. Really like seven people. We're vying for that attention. Not possible. I mean, I'm glad they had seven kids because I wouldn't be here otherwise. But it was hard.

And I'm like, is that possible? And they're like, yes. So I guess I was just like this rambunctious kid who, and now after much therapy and looking back, was just really vying for the attention of my mom. Really like seven people. We're vying for that attention. Not possible. I mean, I'm glad they had seven kids because I wouldn't be here otherwise. But it was hard.

It was hard emotionally for, I think, a more sensitive kid than I think I was allowed to be. Would you say that that I know you don't you didn't know me then, but you know enough.

It was hard emotionally for, I think, a more sensitive kid than I think I was allowed to be. Would you say that that I know you don't you didn't know me then, but you know enough.

It was hard emotionally for, I think, a more sensitive kid than I think I was allowed to be. Would you say that that I know you don't you didn't know me then, but you know enough.

Yes. And it's actually I've called myself a recovering professional athlete for the last 10 years. Granted, I'm also sober. So I'm a recovering alcoholic as well. But having the experience that I had in my childhood, it gave me, I think, an edge in a way, being a professional athlete. But I think it was like a maladaptive way of living as a normal person.

Yes. And it's actually I've called myself a recovering professional athlete for the last 10 years. Granted, I'm also sober. So I'm a recovering alcoholic as well. But having the experience that I had in my childhood, it gave me, I think, an edge in a way, being a professional athlete. But I think it was like a maladaptive way of living as a normal person.

Yes. And it's actually I've called myself a recovering professional athlete for the last 10 years. Granted, I'm also sober. So I'm a recovering alcoholic as well. But having the experience that I had in my childhood, it gave me, I think, an edge in a way, being a professional athlete. But I think it was like a maladaptive way of living as a normal person.

And the way that I've been thinking about it recently... is I thought being extraordinary was the way, was the path to getting the quote-unquote mother's love and attention that I think I was seeking. And with that approach, I was able to win gold medals and I was able to win world championships for our country. But I got to the top of that mountain and there was no there there.

And the way that I've been thinking about it recently... is I thought being extraordinary was the way, was the path to getting the quote-unquote mother's love and attention that I think I was seeking. And with that approach, I was able to win gold medals and I was able to win world championships for our country. But I got to the top of that mountain and there was no there there.

And the way that I've been thinking about it recently... is I thought being extraordinary was the way, was the path to getting the quote-unquote mother's love and attention that I think I was seeking. And with that approach, I was able to win gold medals and I was able to win world championships for our country. But I got to the top of that mountain and there was no there there.

There was no more, like I could get no more attention for what I was doing, literal. And maybe you have experience with this that, oh, I was seeking this extraordinary life, this extraordinary effort, gold, Olympics. And honestly, I gave myself the anthem to value it, however long it takes for the national anthem to play.

There was no more, like I could get no more attention for what I was doing, literal. And maybe you have experience with this that, oh, I was seeking this extraordinary life, this extraordinary effort, gold, Olympics. And honestly, I gave myself the anthem to value it, however long it takes for the national anthem to play.

There was no more, like I could get no more attention for what I was doing, literal. And maybe you have experience with this that, oh, I was seeking this extraordinary life, this extraordinary effort, gold, Olympics. And honestly, I gave myself the anthem to value it, however long it takes for the national anthem to play.

And the gold medal was just put around my neck and I would step off the podium. And my first thought was like, I want to do that again. There's the repetitive nature of professional sport and the new season and the next thing that wasn't conducive to true peace, right? And I think that when I met Glennon and I got three kids, the drive towards the ordinary...