A suburban Austin teen has earned the distinction of being known as a gold medal Olympian for the rest of her life, according to a report from Austin FOX affiliate KTBC.
KTBC reported that 18-year-old Faith Wylie of Dripping Springs accomplished the feat as a soccer player representing Team USA at the 24th summer Deaflympics, which were held in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, from May 1 to May 15.
The glorious moment has been a dream of Faith’s since she was 12 years old, per the station.
“Crazy. Like surreal,” she told KTBC. “It’s still like clicking in my head that like, I’m a deaf Olympian.”
For the U.S. Deaf Soccer Women’s National Team, it’s their fourth gold overall and first since 2013, according to the program’s official Twitter account.
The station reported that Faith’s parents made the nearly 4,000-mile trek to root for their daughter.
Mother Tamara couldn’t hide her pride and excitement throughout the two-week event.
“Oh I told everybody from here to Brazil about it,” she told KTBC. “We told every person we came in contact with about her. My daughter won the gold medal at the Deaf Olympics.”
Faith’s journey to South America for the Deaflympics was also made possible by Dan and Melissa Martin, who sponsored the young woman in honor of their late son, KTBC reported.
Faith said her triumph was for them.
“Getting that medal around my neck, I was just thinking like I did what I came here to do and that was for them,” she said, per the station. “Like these people got me there, and I had to do my part to make it worth it.”
KTBC reported that Faith, whose successful penalty kick against Poland clinched the gold for the Americans, also left Brazil with a few souvenirs for the Martins.
She told the station that she’s looking forward to adding another one when she and her teammates – whom she considers family – head to South Korea for a competition next year.
