Walker Zimmerman will be an Olympian.
The Nashville SC defender was selected to the U.S. Olympic Soccer Team as one of three players over the age limit on coach Marko Mitrovic's 18-man squad for the Paris Olympics.
The men's Olympic tournament is an under-23 competition, but teams can take three older players. In addition to the 31-year-old Zimmerman, Colorado Rapids midfielder Djordje Mihajlovic and FC Cincinnati defender Myles Robinson are also scheduled to go to Paris.
Zimmerman has played 42 games for the United States, scoring three goals and recording two assists. He appeared in all four of the United States' matches at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, starting three of them. Zimmerman helped the U.S. advance to the round of 16, where they lost to the Netherlands.
Zimmermann appeared in 117 regular season games with Nashville, scoring 13 goals and recording six assists, earning four MLS All-Star selections and earning MLS Defender of the Year honors in 2020 and 2021.
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Zimmerman has appeared in 16 league games this season, starting 13 of them. He has helped Nashville's defense record six shutouts in 22 games. With Zimmerman at center back, NSC has allowed just 1.2 goals per 90 minutes, compared to 1.7 without him.
The U.S., playing in its first Olympic Games since 2008, will begin Group A play against host France on July 24. They will then face New Zealand on July 27 and Guinea on July 30. If the U.S. finishes in the top two of its group, it will advance to the Aug. 2 quarterfinals.
The semi-finals are scheduled for August 5, with the bronze medal match and final scheduled for August 8 and 9, respectively.
Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com or on Twitter @Jacob_Shames.
