Emma Hayes emotional after coaching Team USA to gold: 'I was desperate to do well for this country'

Talk about a comeback story. The U.S.

women’s national soccer team just won their first gold medal at the Olympics since 2012 and their coach Emma Hayes couldn't be prouder. The USWNST on Aug. 10 in the women's soccer final.

After the match, Hayes spoke with NBC Sports' Mike Tirico and explained why this win means so much to her. "I come from a place of wanting players to enjoy themselves and I’ve been at a club for 12 years where I’ve had huge success," she said. "But I was desperate to do well for this country.

And I'm so emotional because it's not every day you win a gold medal." Tirico was curious to know why Hayes, a London native, felt "desperate" to secure the gold for the U.S.

"I love America. It made me. And I always say that.

It definitely made me," she said as the crowd's cheers intensified in the background. Right after the USWNT won the game, Hayes took to Instagram to share a photo of herself posing on the field. "Gold Babyyyyyy.

These women are so worth it 🇺🇸🇺🇸USA," she captioned the post. Olympian and former USWNT member Abby Wambach congratulated Hayes in the comments, writing, "Thank you Emma!! You are the real deal and made us all very very happy today. Love the way you approach the team and I can tell the players love you.

It’s a shame coaches don’t get medals. You deserve one ..

. this I know for sure." Hayes' followers flooded the post with similar celebratory reactions, with many social media users calling the coach a "legend" and t.