Mia Hamm

Mariel Margaret Hamm, better known as Mia Hamm, is not just a retired American soccer player for the Women's National team, but is a total inspiration. Her positive attitude, lack of selfishness, and complete motivation is what sets her apart from the rest. Mia was born into a family of five kids on March 17th, 1972 in Selma, Alabama. Mia's soccer career began at an early age, mainly because she had brothers to encourage or provoke her to play. Although she had been born with "club foot", in which she had foot corrector shoes as a toddler, the disability definitely did not stop Mia from accomplishing her goals. At the age of 15, Mia had been invited to join the women's national soccer team, and was the youngest to ever play for them. Later on, Mia attended college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a full scholarship. This was only the start of her incredible journey.

(http://legacydirect.wordpress.com (Legacy Direct))

Mia Hamm was named the "All-American and Atlantic Coast Conference player of the Year" for 3 years in a row. She also won the ACC player/athlete of the year in 1993 and 1994. Then in 1999, Nike named the largest building on their corporation campus after Hamm. She has many achievements, such as: 

(http://njysplayhardplayfair.org (NJ Youth soccer club))

Hamm's adopted brother, Garrett Hamm, died on April 16, 1997 from aplastic anemia, a rare blood disease. Once this tragedy occurred, she started the Mia Hamm Foundation in part to support patients and their families who benefit from bone marrow transplants. "Through an all-star exhibition soccer match, 'The Garrett Game', we are able to raise awareness and funds for bone marrow disease research, and to support families through the marrow transplant process. At halftime in the 2001 Garrett Game, we brought together marrow donors with recipients for the first time. It was clearly my most satisfying moment away from the field." (Mia Hamm) Later on, Hamm actually played her last international game of her soccer career on December 8th, 2004 in Carson, California. Hamm then married Nomar Garciaparra, a former Boston Red Sox shortstop. Later, she gave birth to two beautiful twin girls, Grace Isabella and Ava Caroline, on March 27th, 2007, and in early 2012, gave birth to her first son, Garrett. Mia decided to name her son Garrett after her late brother. "I have to keep him living," says Hamm, "he's still alive, just not with us."

Mia's legacy continues to live on. That is exactly how I can tie my life to hers. Mia encouraged me to keep my head up and just never look back; just keep moving forward. Every time I come across a rough day, not just on the field, but at school, or at home, I always remind myself this: Play for her. That little phrase gets me to keep going whenever I am in times of doubt. It comes from Mia, and is one of my all time favorite quotes; "Somewhere behind the athlete you've become, the hours of practice and the coaches that push you, is a little girl who fell in love with the game and never looked back... Play for her."

(http://www.soccerforhope.org/soccer/celebrity-soccer-challenge.php ())

Mia Hamm is an inspiration. The reasoning comes to four simple words: she never gave up. Mia never gave up and kept fighting until she was satisfied. She not only is the best women's soccer player and athlete of all time, but is the greatest hero to me. Mia encouraged young kids all over the world that if you strive to do something you love and try your very best at it, you will succeed. She continues her organization supporting bone marrow patients and their familes, and also continues her annual celebrity soccer matches, in memory of her late brother. A true hero does not necessarily have to be strong, or even powerful. A hero can be just as simple as your own relative. You could even be a hero; you just have to have confidence and push to your limits to become the best you can be.