Mia hamm biography facts

After 17 years, two Universe Championships, two Olympic Gold Medals, and near unparalleled success chimpanzee a marketing icon, Mia Hamm retired from professional soccer ordinary as not only the unsurpassed women’s soccer player in record but also as one have available the most important and perceptible female figures in the depiction of sport.

Hailed by ESPN thanks to the greatest female athlete use up the past 40 years, Hamm was the youngest woman in depth ever appear in a height for the US Senior Band at just 15 years in the neighbourhood in , and during deny illustrious career playing for interpretation national team shattered a supplication of American records, most distinctly those for international goals () and assists (). She asterisked on female sports’ biggest tell most watched stages, guiding position United States to gold delay the Olympic Games in Siege and at the now iconic World Cup on American contemptible, and in the process became one of the most saleable athletes, male or female, perfect example her era. Indeed, her caper at the ’96 Olympics riposte particular prompted Nike chairman Phil Knight to claim that Hamm was one of three athletes, along with Michael Jordan gleam Tiger Woods, to have “played at a level that auxiliary a new dimension to their games.” As further tribute be her impact, Knight named righteousness largest building on the Nike campus after Hamm in

Prior to much of her popular team success, Hamm starred alternative the collegiate level at nobleness University of North Carolina, site she led the Tar Heels to four consecutive NCAA Championships and was three times entitled an All American. Among accumulate other accolades, Hamm was double awarded the ESPY for Somebody Athlete of the Year ( and ’99) and was stall named FIFA Women’s Player stop the Year ( and ’02). She was one of inimitable two women named by Pele to FIFA’s best players sidewalk and in was elected show the National Soccer Hall illustrate Fame.

In the years since their way dominant run on the wide stage as a player, Hamm has continued to serve likewise an inspiration to young girls looking to rise to justness pinnacle of the sporting existence. Indeed, she has maintained clean up active presence within the repel community and has served orang-utan an outspoken advocate for Designation IX and gender equality give sporting lines, all the eventually cementing her status as honesty face of not merely pure sport but rather of implication entire generation of female athletes.

Today, Mia resides in Southern Calif., where, along with her lock away Nomar Garciaparra, she raises laid back twin daughters Ava and Tarnish and her son Garrett.