Hamm is second from the left.
Mia Hamm is arguably one of the coolest woman in the history of soccer. Hamm has been playing since she was very young. At 15, she made the U.S. national team, making her the youngest ever to play for the team at the time. When Hamm was 19 she played for the U.S. in the first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup. She retired in 2004, but has remained in the spotlight for her support of soccer. Here are some of Hamm’s most inspiring moments.
First Women’s FIFA World Player Of The Year In 2001, Hamm won the title of FIFA World Player Of The Year—the first time this title was ever awarded to women. She won it in 2002 also. She also won the U.S. Soccer Federation’s female Athlete of the year award five years in-a-row.
Most International Goals Ever By the end of her career, Hamm held the record for most international goals, male or female. She held her record until Abby Wambach, another America player, beat her with 159 goals in 2013.
Winning Two Gold Medals Hamm has gotten a chance to play in the Olympics three times. She won gold at Atlanta in 1996 and at Athens in 2004. Hamm won silver at Sydney in 2000.
Cheered On USA In 2015 Women’s World Cup There was a lot of controversy surrounding the Women’s World Cup this year, but so far it’s going great. USA hasn’t won since 1999 (led by Hamm!), but fans, including Hamm, are showing up in masses to support the team. Hamm led a chant of “I Believe That We Will Win” at a party the night before the USA final group-stage match against Nigeria. Looks like the chant worked, because the US won, 1-0!
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Images courtesy of Mia Hamm Foundation
Video courtesy of 2 Drunk Fans on Youtube
