If you go to Wilton, chances are you've seen the sign that says "Welcome to Wilton Hometown of Kristine Lilly, Olympic gold medalist." Or maybe you've driven on Kristine Lilly Way, formerly School Road. Perhaps you were there for Kristine Lilly Day in 2007.
Lots of athletic heroes are honored by their hometowns. Often such ceremonies are held upon the athlete's retirement, but Kristine Lilly isn't the retiring type.
"I still have a little fire in me," Lilly said.
And that fire has kept her going at the advanced (for soccer) age of 38 and through the birth of her daughter, Sidney, in 2008.
More than a decade after the rest of the country found out what people around here had known for years that Kristine Lilly is one of the best women's soccer players in the world she is still playing at the highest level.
Lilly was preparing last week for yet another U.S. National Team game, a friendly against Germany on Saturday. She also plays professionally for Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer. While she enjoys playing for the Breakers, there is nothing like playing for her country, which she has been doing since she was in high school and Ronald Reagan was in the White House.
"Being with the national team is great," she said by phone from Chicago, where Saturday's match was played. "It's the highest level you can play."
Team USA's crowning moment, at least in the public's eye, came in 1999 with the victory over China in the Women's World Cup final. Most of the members of that team retired after a "farewell tour" in 2004, but not Lilly.
"The feeling of winning and being the best at something is a great feeling, so you keep striving for that." she said.
Lilly joined the national team in 1987, and in 1999 set a record for most international matches by any soccer player, male or female. She has two World Cup titles and two Olympic gold medals and one silver. She had to miss to 2008 Olympics due to Sidney's birth.
Now, at Breakers home games, Sidney is in the stands at home games with Lilly's husband, David Heaney. The family lives in Brookline, Mass. Her daughter won't be 2 until July, but is already picking up soccer.
"She kicks it, throws the ball," Lilly said. "She does a little bit of everything."
Lilly will work with more with more young players when she returns to Wilton for the Kristine Lilly Soccer Academy from June 27-29. Information is available on her Web site, kristinelilly13.com.
She has another big moment coming June 14, when she is one of the annual honorees by The Sports Museum in Boston, which she will be honored alongside the 1970 Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins; former Patriots star Steve Nelson; former Celtic great JoJo White and former Red Sox Dwight Evans and Jerry Remy.
"It's an honor when you're recognized, especially in a sports town like Boston, and being a rare female athlete to be inducted in there," she said.
So as she nears her 40th birthday what's left for Lilly to accomplish in soccer? She's too busy playing the game to think about it.
The fire is still there.
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