4x World Cups, 5 Olympics Gold Medals, 9x CONCACAF W Championship, and Gold Cup—USWNT‘s accolades speak for themselves cementing their status as a true soccer dynasty. Well, recently enough, the American ladies successfully added the historic fifth Olympic Gold to their trophy cabinet, which former player Tobin Heath believes is ‘more important’ than any other of their previously earned gold medals.

Considering the recent few unsuccessful years that the Star and Stripes had endured, winning their fifth medal was surely the best break they could have caught. But what’s extra special about their recent triumph that even overshadows the prior ones? Well, a simple answer is that the current group took inspiration like no other generation.

“I felt like our World Cups and gold medals mean nothing unless we’ve given to the next generation the opportunity to do the same,” said Heath, while having a conversation with Christen Press on the latest podcast episode of RE—INC. “Them winning that gold medal almost felt more important than any other gold medal that I’ve ever gotten.”

Heath—who hasn’t kicked the ball in over two years since sustaining a cartilage issue that saw her undergo two surgeries—narrated her own experience of how she tried to draw motivation from past achievements. “I know I was a kid who looked up to the teams that had won before me. I knew how important those people, that team, and the history were for our success,” added the 36-year-old.

Consider Real Madrid, a team that has lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy more than 15 times. Undoubtedly, the current and future generations playing for the Spaniards dream of winning this prestigious cup, rather than thinking, ‘Why bother when we have plenty?’ Indeed, each of their achievements on the European stage is unique in its own way. However, there must be at least one trophy that Los Blancos believe they won during a period that overshadows the rest.

Also, a glorified history is what motivates the new generation to achieve even greater success. The current group that Hayes led in the Olympics was surely inspired to think, ‘Let’s make it five.’ And boy they did without any mistake. No wonder Hayes also acknowledged the Olympic gold as the greatest achievement she could possibly achieve.

Winning the Olympic gold is ‘bigger’ than anything for Emma Hayes

Winning 16 trophies in the span of 12 years at Chelsea is surely a time that Emma Hayes will always cherish throughout her managerial journey. However, nothing compares to what she has done alongside Team USA. “Chelsea has been my love. Every trophy I won with that club is dear to me. But this professionally is probably much bigger than anything else I have ever done.”

“Trip of a lifetime” is how Hayes discusses her time with the USWNT in France throughout the Summer Games campaign. No wonder she called herself a ‘proud English woman winning a gold medal, be it for another country.’ After all, America has a special place in her heart, what she believes is a country that gave her more than where she was born and brought up.

Perhaps Emma Hayes could be the factor that Tobin Heath says why the Paris Olympics achievement stands out from the rest in the USWNT’s history.