How retired Matildas striker made Olympic return

Five years ago, Michelle Heyman, an Australian striker, exited international football quietly.

However, on Thursday, the 36-year-old will take the field with the Matildas as they kick off their Olympic journey, which is regarded as one of the sport’s most remarkable comebacks.

Following an incredible season in the domestic football league, where she shattered the 100-goal mark as the first player in A-League Women (ALW) history, Heyman caught the attention of Matildas’ coaching staff who needed to fill the spot left by the injured Sam Kerr.

Now, not only is Heyman back on the squad, but she’s also viewed as Australia’s top prospect to score goals in France.

“There are always some doubters thinking I’m too old to return,” she shared with the BBC ahead of the tournament.

“But I enjoy proving my point… age is just a number.”

Much like her comeback in 2024, a dazzling performance in the A-League propelled a young Heyman onto the national team back in 2010.

Throughout her career, she has played 61 matches and scored 20 goals for the Matildas, including her participation in the 2015 World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, her early years in international football were fraught with challenges.

At that time, the Matildas faced poor financial support and were often subjected to a stressful and demanding environment, leading to the dismissal of coach Alen Stajcic in early 2019.

Despite the lack of support from officials, public interest was minimal. Many Matildas games were not accessible to spectators due to the costs of hosting them.

Heyman also fought her own battles with physical and mental health; she opened up about her anxiety and frequent panic attacks, compounded by recurring injuries to her ankle and knee.

By May 2019, Heyman found herself burnt out, injured, and overwhelmed.

Her position on the team had vanished, and she hadn’t participated in a match for six months.

“I had the desire to continue… but my body and mind just couldn’t comply,” Heyman stated when she announced her retirement from international football.

She believed she had accomplished everything except for an Olympic gold medal.

Years later, she revealed that she had been dropped from the squad, describing her retirement as a face-saving measure.

“I had to convince myself I wanted to retire, but in reality, I got fired,” she told Code Sports.

This experience left her heartbroken, prompting her to exit the A-League, as it seemed the conclusion of her illustrious career was written.

However, just 18 months later, a revitalized Heyman returned to the A-League with remarkable flair, scoring a hat-trick in her comeback match for Canberra United.

“I missed being a part of something greater than myself,” she expressed at the time.

Since her return, she has surpassed Kerr as the all-time leading goal scorer in ALW and became the first player to earn a third Golden Boot award. Coupled with her two Julie Dolan medals, the league’s highest honor, she is arguably the most decorated player in the competition.

When the time for Olympic selection arrived, Heyman was prepared and at peak performance.

“She’s in fantastic form, scoring with ease,” remarked head coach Tony Gustavsson when recalling her to the squad in February.

Her arrival in the squad generated buzz across the nation. “Quietly, this could be one of the greatest comeback stories in Australian sports in recent history,” said Vince Rugari, a football journalist from the Sydney Morning Herald.

“Did I think this would ever happen again? Probably not,” expressed Heyman with a grin.

“I still vividly recall that day – there were tears. And I don’t typically cry!”

Adding to the sentiment is the fact that the country she is representing now hardly resembles the one she competed for just five years ago.

The Matildas have soared to become the most beloved sporting team in Australia, surpassing even the popularity of the men’s cricket team, according to experts.

Players have become household names, with every match at home since the World Cup being sold out, setting records for the most-watched television event in Australian history.

This stands in stark contrast to Heyman’s debut experience, which took place “on a backfield in Queensland somewhere”.

“I reckon there were about a dozen spectators at that game, if we were fortunate,” she reminisces.

“And now, looking back, our last game saw 77,000 cheering fans. That’s the kind of experience I longed for, and never thought I’d witness in Australia.”

That wonder and bittersweet joy resonate among the previous Matildas as well, she shares.

“I carry the emotion of every former player, and I aim to do this for them. I want to showcase ‘look what we’ve built together’.”

Does the pressure to perform in France increase with the expectations set by Kerr, Australia’s biggest sporting star?

Heyman confidently dismisses this notion.

She acknowledges the differences between her and Kerr as forwards, but emphasizes their individual ability to score. In the short time since her return to the team, she has already netted six goals—double that of any of her teammates during that same time frame.

“I doubt many remember the numerous goals I scored for Australia back in the day when they went unnoticed,” she laughs.

“[But] I excel at my job, and I’m committed to working hard and winning games.”

Undoubtedly, hard work is crucial. The Matildas face a challenging group, pitted against the formidable USA, Rio 2016 gold medalists Germany, and Zambia for the two spots in the next stage.

Additionally, the team is grappling with a wave of injuries. Beyond Kerr, co-captain Steph Catley and key winger Caitlin Foord have been in doubt for the past month. Furthermore, midfielder Katrina Gorry and defender Clare Hunt are just returning from injuries.

Despite their previous World Cup campaign, where Kerr spent much of the time on the sidelines, analysts argue that the team often struggles to perform without her.

So, what does Heyman have to say to those who have already dismissed the Matildas?

“They should be quiet,” she responds playfully.

“The more support we have, the better we will perform.

“We are doing this for you – we play to win for our country.”