Columbus Crew goalie Patrick Schulte looks to 'create history' with US Olympic team
From the moment Crew goalie Patrick Schulte realized that he would be eligible to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, his goal was set - make the United States roster.
Never one to look far ahead, knowing his career can "be changed upside down" at any given moment, making the Olympics was the one goal Schulte let himself dream about. And after years of participating in national training camps while also making a name for himself on the professional level, Schulte made the dream a reality, officially being named to the U.S. Olympic roster last weekend.
"Just being an Olympian, going and competing in the Olympics in anything," Schulte said. "I grew up watching all of the events, so just to be able to say that I’ve lived out something that I’ve dreamed of is super, super cool.”
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Schulte's journey playing for the U.S. internationally started with a call-up to U-18 team training camp in 2019. The call-ups to national team camps continued throughout Schulte's career, during his time playing at Saint Louis University to being drafted by the Crew in 2022 and winning the MLS NEXT Pro Cup inaugural title and then eventually becoming an MLS Cup champion the next season.
For every milestone moment in Schulte's career, his parents, Kathy and Tim, always made sure to be there, no matter how far they had to travel from their hometown in St. Charles, Missouri.
Wanting to continue in that tradition of virtually never missing one of Schulte's games, his parents planned to make the trip to the Olympics. But in order to ensure everything was set for Paris, they had to make arrangements before the roster was decided.
"It was kind of funny, just because you have to book your trip, especially a trip like that, in advance," Schulte said. "So, they booked it in hopes that I would take care of business and make the team, but they were going regardless. They said the pressure is on me to make the team."
Once Schulte received the FaceTime call from U.S. U-23 coach Marko Mitrovic confirming he had been selected for the 18-player roster, Schulte shared the news with his parents immediately.
"Just representing your country always is a true honor, and is something that I never take lightly," Schulte said. "You never know how many more times you’re going to be able to do that.”
Patrick Schulte looks to 'create history' with United States men's soccer Olympic roster heading to Paris
Representing the U.S. youth teams internationally for over five years and playing competitive soccer for even longer, Schulte has gotten to know the group going to Paris on a deeper level. Though Aidan Morris, who Schulte grew closest to in Columbus, was unable to make the roster, he's also formed relationships with other national teammates, including Duncan McGuire and Jake McGlynn, over the years.
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All took different paths to get to a point in their careers where they are Olympians. Schulte appreciates that after the countless training camps and competitions this roster is making the trip together.
"I think everyone just kind of clicks really well," Schulte said. "They’re a great group of guys, and definitely will create some lifelong memories together and some lifelong friendships that we have already, but this will definitely take the friendships to another level."
After the performance of the U.S. at Copa America, being knocked out during the group stage, there could be an assumption that the U-23 group going to Paris wants to compensate for the shortcomings of the senior team.
Schulte made it clear that the players at the Olympics "want to write our own story" and is focusing on a different aspect of soccer history.
"We haven’t won a medal in U.S. men’s history, and so I think that’s kind of a talking point throughout the group," Schulte said. "We want to create history, and all of us, besides three guys, are under 23, so we also have a lot we want to prove in our career. And so, I think this is just a good opportunity to do that.”
Ranking the moment the Crew won the MLS Cup title as the best in his career, Schulte says being an Olympian has yet to surpass that moment, noting that "it doesn’t feel real" to him yet, and it won't until he arrives in Paris.
"I’m sure it will be right up there with it (MLS Cup), definitely would be a lot better when we bring home gold," Schulte said. "I know having an Olympic medal is something that I’ll never forget. And just being on that podium and with the group of guys would obviously be unreal."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew goalie Patrick Schulte achieves dream of making Olympics
