Mia Hamm

Mia Hamm Playing Soccer (http://www.americanathletemag.com/ArticleView/tabi (Marissa Kleber))

Baby Mia wearing casts to correct her club foot (http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/people/shows/hamm/ (Stephanie Hamm))

"I've worked too hard and too long to let anything stand in the way of my goals. I will not let my teammates down and I will not let myself down." is a quote from my hero, Mia Hamm. Mia, also known as Mariel Margaret Hamm, was born on March 17, 1972 in Selma, Alabama. She was the fourth of six children and moved often because her father was an Air Force pilot. Even though Hamm had a large family and a roof over her head she still overcame many obstacles. According to www.kidzworld.com, Mia was born with a club foot and had to wear corrective shoes as a toddler. Never the less, having been born with foot problems, it did not stop Mia from becoming a successful athlete and taking the world head on. Another obstacle my hero faced was the death of her brother Garrett. Mia's brother died of complications from a rare bone marrow disease, aplastic anemia. This was a very hard time for Hamm because Garrett was a big inspiration in her life, especially in sports. These obstacles would have normally knocked many people down, but not Mia Hamm. She went on to accomplish and achieve many things.

Mia and teammates after winning 2004 Olympics (http://www.miafoundation.org/girls-in-sports/ (Mia Hamm Foundation))

With over forty-five awards and accomplishments, and being the youngest player ever to play for the United States Women's National soccer team, Mia Hamm has had a major impact on women's soccer and has been an inspiration for all female athletes. Even though Mia faced many obstacles growing up, her courage and determination helped her make her mark in female soccer.  By the age of 14, Hamm was commanding soccer in Texas and was being scouted to be on the National Team.  When Mia was only 15, she was added to the national team roster, becoming the youngest player to ever play on the U.S. Women's soccer team.  For fourteen years, Hamm held the record for most international goals scored for both men and women's soccer.  Mia also holds the record for most assists, and has led her team to victory in two World Cup's, in 1991 and 1999.  In 1996 and 2004, she won gold medals at the olympics, states the website en.wikipedia.org.  Hamm has also won Female Athlete of the Year five times for Soccer USA and three times for the ESPY's. Although Mia Hamm has had many awards and accomplishments on the soccer field, she has also become a hero off the field.

Mia Hamm playing soccer with kids in South Africa (http://www.americasquarterly.org/sites/default/fil (Brent Stirton))

For Mia, being successful does not stop on the soccer field, she also makes a difference off the green pitch.  After the death of her brother Garrett, she started the Mia Hamm Foundation.  Claimed by www.miafoundation.org, this charity focuses on bone marrow research and awareness, and helps provide more chances for young women in sports in honor of her brother.  In addition to the Mia Hamm Foundation, my hero motivates many kids to play soccer, promotes women's soccer, and encourages equal opportunities in sports.

"Failure happens all the time.  It happens everyday in practice.  What makes you better is how  you react to it." This quote, by Mia Hamm, sums up why she is an inspiration to so many. As a baby she reacted in a positive way to her club foot.  As a teenager she reacted to her soccer achievements in a productive way, and as an adult, she reacted to her brother's death effectively.  Mia Hamm is my hero because she is a great person on and off the soccer field.  She has inspired me to become a better athlete and person.  Her heroic qualities like courage, determination, and bravery have shown through the obstacles she faced, accomplishments she achieved, and her success off the green pitch.