US Deaf Women’s National Team Wins Their Fourth Olympic Gold at the 2022 Summer Deaflympics

The 2021 Summer Deaflympics were postponed to May 2022 because of Covid restrictions. And with the closing ceremony wrapping up the event on the 15th, we have seen some iconic victories this year. Perhaps the most notable, the US Deaf Women’s National Soccer Team won their fourth Olympic gold this year.

The USDWNT went up against Poland in the final match for gold and, with a score of 2 (4) – 2 (2), emerged victorious.

The 2022 Summer Deaflympics in Caxias do Sul, Brazil

The competition comprised 216 events in 18 sports, including track and field, karate, orienteering, shooting, and swimming. It is the first time since 2001 that a women’s handball tournament was held at the Deaflympics. Because ongoing European crisis, Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia did not compete at the Games. On the other hand, Great Britain withdrew due to rising safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by Japan on May 11th.

In soccer, the US Deaf WNT went up against Kenya, Japan, Brazil, and Poland. Incredibly, the US team is undefeated in international competition. With 3 Deaflympic titles and 2 World titles, the US Deaf WNT has never lost a match on a global stage.

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The team is led by volunteers: head coach Amy Griffin, and assistant coach Joy Fawcett. They are both former US national team members for the 1991 Women’s World Cup.

Obstacles faced by the USDWNT

The US Deaf Women’s National Soccer Team is a non-profit that’s not funded by the government. The team members host fundraisers to support themselves and make it to competitions. Moreover, with no junior-level leagues, the development and recruitment of players also become a challenge.

They host only two team training camps in a year, and not all the players can communicate in the same language. Some players use hearing aids and are not well-versed in American Sign Language. Using hearing aids is illegal at the Deaflympics. So they had to train in not just soccer but also a new language.

The players train tirelessly, and with a fascinating attitude, they work with the resources available to them. Their incredible feats on the field are an inspiration to every girl who watches them.

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