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Ex-Gator Wambach Will Miss Olympics With Broken Leg

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 18, 2008

SAN DIEGO - U.S. soccer star Abby Wambach had surgery Thursday to repair a broken left leg that will keep her out of the Olympics.

The team's leading scorer had a titanium rod inserted in her lower left leg during a one-hour operation performed by Damion Valletta, an orthopedic surgeon for U.S. Soccer. The former University of Florida star was resting comfortably and can begin full weight-bearing activities on the leg in five to six weeks.

"Everything went according to plan, there were no complications and small incisions were used to minimize the soft tissue irritability from the surgery," Valletta said. "We'll have her stay in the hospital until tomorrow, monitor the pain and control the swelling in her leg. We anticipate that she will be discharged tomorrow on crutches and will start being able to put a small amount of weight on the leg."

Wambach, 28, broke her tibia and fibula in the team's final tuneup Wednesday night against Brazil in San Diego, and is expected to be sidelined about 12 weeks. The Americans begin defense of the gold medal Aug. 6 against Norway.

"I'm excited to watch them and cheer them on during this challenge they've been presented with," Wambach said after the game. "It's really going to take everyone coming together. I love them all so much, and appreciate so many people involved with this game and the team.

"I put my heart and soul into this game every day, but sometimes accidents happen. I've gotten so many calls already, and I just want to say how much I appreciate that."

Thursday, forward Lauren Cheney replaced Wambach on the Olympic squad. The 20-year-old Cheney originally was as an alternate for the roster.

Adu, Altidore, Bradley On Men's Olympic Soccer Team

Freddy Adu, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley will lead the U.S. men's soccer team into the Beijing Olympics.

Coach Peter Nowak announced the 18-man roster Thursday. Forward Brian McBride, goalkeeper Brad Guzan and defender Michael Parkhurst are the three overage players allowed in the under-23 tournament.

Selecting the Olympic squad was tricky because the Beijing Games overlap with World Cup qualifying for the U.S. team. The Americans open Olympic play Aug. 7 against Japan.

The goalkeepers are Guzan and Chris Seitz. The defenders: Parkhurst, Patrick Ianni, Michael Orozco, Nathan Sturgis and Marvell Wynne. The midfielders: Adu, Bradley, Maurice Edu, Benny Feilhaber, Stuart Holden, Sacha Kljestan and Danny Szetela. The forwards: Altidore, McBride, Charlie Davies and Robbie Rogers.

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