Mia Hamm

"Who is Mia Hamm?" All my friends ask. I think to myself, "They don't know who Mia Hamm is. They must not like soccer." Well, soccer is my favorite sport and has been ever since I could remember. Mia Hamm is a famous soccer player for those of you who don't know who she is. Many people say that Mia Hamm is their hero but they can't tell me why. Well, read the next paragraph and see if she is really your hero or not.

Mariel Margaret Hamm was born on March 17, 1972 in Selma, Alabama. William Hamm, her father, was in the United States Air Force so she moved really offen. Her mother, Stephanie Hamm, was a Ballerina. When Mia was born her family was made of two older sisters and an older brother. When Mia's father was stationed in Italy the only sport there was to watch was soccer. So they learned the game, but really didn't understand the game very much. When she moved back into the states she joined her first soccer club in Texas.

In 1987, when she was just 15, Mia Hamm became the youngest member ever of the US national team. At the age of 17, she scored her first ever goal for the United States in a game against Canada. In High school she asked if she could take 11th and 12th grade together because she had already been accepted to play soccer at the University Of North Carolina. She took both grades together and passed. She went onto college, where she led the Tar Heels to four straight national titles and finished as the team's all-time leading scorer. In 1991, Mia Hamm helped the United States win the first ever Women's World Cup of Soccer.

Mia Hamm has scored 149 goals in international soccer, more than any other female player, and is still considered the greatest female soccer player in the world. She's also helped the United States win two World Cups and an Olympic gold medal. Mia Hamm didn't just score goals, she helped raise the popularity of women's soccer. She also started a foundation, in memory of her late brother Garret Hamm, who died of a rare bone marrow diease. The foundation helps out kids with some kind of bone marrow diease. Mia Hamm retired after the 2004 summer olympics. she still continues her foundation and still continues to be my hero in all shapes and forms. She is married to Nomar Garciaparra, the shortstop who used to be on the Red Sox and the Cubs but now is on the Dodgers.

Mia Hamm Says, "Make sure that you are playing soccer because you love it, not because your parents are making you do it." I listen to her and play soccer for the love of it. Now can you see why Mia Hamm is my hero. Now you can say" Hey Mia Hamm is great!" and know why she is great. She will always and forever be my hero and role model and no one can ever change that.