- That's how Ann-Katrin Berger defied two cancer diagnoses and became the heroine of the Elves.
Twelve hours after her penalty heroics, Ann-Katrin Berger boarded the team bus of Germany's women's football team bound for Lyon, continuing her fairy tale Olympic journey. A few meters away, Marina Hegering was still marveling at her goalkeeper. "Ice cold, merciless, amazing. It was absolutely remarkable. Hats off, that's unique," said the defensive chief before departure. Having successfully navigated the quarterfinal thriller in Marseille against Canada, the team of coach Horst Hrubesch now faces the Olympic semi-final against the USA on Tuesday (6 pm).
"I have the feeling that we really needed that. Just to test our mentality, especially at a tournament like this. I believe it will give us a big boost for the next game," said Berger. The 33-year-old saved two penalties in extra time and calmly converted the decisive penalty to make it 4:2.
Ann-Katrin Berger received two cancer diagnoses in just four years
For Berger, it's a "happy ending," as she herself puts it. The happy ending of a journey that a few years ago, few would have thought possible. In 2017, the now 33-year-old was diagnosed with an aggressive form of thyroid cancer. A blow. But Berger reacted like a true goalkeeper - she got back up. She fought her way back in record time and was back in the squad of her then club, Birmingham City, just a few months after the diagnosis. She remained cancer-free for four years.
But then, during her last check-up in the middle of the 2022 Euros, the shock: anomalies in the blood again. Cancer again. The thyroid again. And again, Berger did what she does best: fight. She kept the diagnosis to herself, not wanting to unsettle the team before the big final against England. And she stayed, to distract herself. "I would have gone crazy at home," she said in an interview with stern in 2023.
"I tried to see the cancer as a game that I absolutely have to win." There's no room for doubt. Her against cancer - the most important game of her life - and that's how she approached the illness and the therapy. "I tackled the therapy plan like a training plan. No questions asked, no doubts. The doctors set the tactics, and I marched on."
And march on she did. Just two days after her first radiation, Berger is already standing beside her bed, doing stretches to stay flexible. She wants to get back on the field, back between the posts of her then club, FC Chelsea. She completes her rehab in record time and is back on the pitch after just three months. She fights her way back to the top of the world. In April 2024, she moves to New York and is immediately a regular starter. Three months later, national coach Horst Hrubesch calls her up for the Olympic Games.
"I never thought I'd be playing here. Now that we've come this far, it obviously makes sense to reach the final," she said in the catacombs of the Stade Vélodrome after the game against Canada, adding: "For every athlete, the gold medal is the happy ending. That would be the perfect fairy tale."
Hrubesch rates USA stronger than Canada
Prior to that, the Hrubesch team faces a "seriously strong opponent". The USA had handled the German women's team in the second group match with a 4:1 victory. Even the national coach, after the tough match against Tokyo Olympic champions Canada, stated, "At the end of the day, I would rate the Americans a bit higher. Let's see if they take us by surprise again - or if we can change that. The job my girls are doing is exceptionally good." The Americans also had to go into extra time against Japan.
The 73-year-old's dream of playing in the final at the Parisian Parc des Princes continues. "One more win, and we're guaranteed a medal," said DFB sports director Nia Künzer. There's still the game for third place.
Popp amazed by "machine in goal"
Former world champion Popp called Berger a "pretty cool customer". "We've got a machine in goal," said captain Alexandra Popp after the final whistle, amazed. "And that she then calmly scores herself - hats off, I tip my hat to that, to still be so cool-headed." It was Berger's first penalty kick in a game.
Berger herself almost held a penalty shot, but the ball rolled under her body and into the net. "It was a cool feeling, it was fun," she commented on her memorable appearance.
Hrubesch then hugged and teased the goalkeeper. "He gave me a hard time for not saving the third penalty," Berger reported, laughing. "He always likes to tease me: Save the balls, he says." She joked, "I didn't want to save it because I also wanted to score."
With her coup, Berger also made her heart's partner overjoyed. Jessica Carter, who also plays for the US club NJ/NY Gotham FC, posted the TV images of the crucial scenes on Instagram and wrote, "Thats my Fianceeee!!!!!!!!" - "that's my fiancée".
Berger and Carter played together for years at FC Chelsea and won the English championship there. The goalkeeper moved to the USA in spring, and the 26-year-old defender completed her transfer a few days ago. They announced their engagement in May.
Berger's journey to the Olympic semi-finals with Germany's women's football team is even more remarkable considering her personal struggles. Despite being diagnosed with thyroid cancer twice, in 2017 and 2022, she returned to the field each time, showing resilience and determination. Her journey eventually led her to represent Germany in the Olympic Games in Canada.
After their victory against Canada in the quarterfinals, Coach Horst Hrubesch expressed his confidence in facing the USA in the semi-finals, acknowledging that the USA had handled Germany strongly during their previous encounter. He praised his team, stating, "At the end of the day, I would rate the Americans a bit higher. Let's see if they take us by surprise again - or if we can change that. The job my girls are doing is exceptionally good."
