Nashville SC's Walker Zimmerman makes Olympic soccer team

Nashville SC defender Walker Zimmerman was named to the U.S. men's Olympic soccer team Monday.

Why it matters: Earning an Olympic roster spot is another career-defining accomplishment for one of Nashville SC's most popular players.

The intrigue: Players generally must be under age 23 to qualify for the Olympic team, but Zimmerman, who is 31, earned one of three roster exceptions for older players.

Zoom out: Zimmerman had a memorable run in the 2022 World Cup , but this will be his first appearance at the Olympics.

What he's saying: At a press conference Monday, Zimmerman said he thought his opportunity to play in the Olympics had passed.

• "It's something I've always watched growing up, something I've always wanted to participate in," he said, according to ESPN . "And again, I thought that was over and so I'm just excited and can't wait to get going in France."

What's next: The men's soccer team will be the first to represent Team USA in a 2024 Olympics event when they compete against host country France on July 24, two days before the opening ceremony .

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