Mia Hamm: The Face of Women's Soccer

Famous actor and activist, Christopher Reeve, defines a hero as  “an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles” (brainyquote.com). Reeve claims that heroes are everyday people who are able to not only face, but also conquer adversity while being situated in tough circumstances. Heroism is a quality that is displayed through an ordinary person; someone that goes to school or work like everyone else on a daily basis. For instance, firefighters, doctors, and police officers serve as individuals who establish a positive influence in society. Everyday heroes do not act for increasing status or media benefits; the motives behind their exploits improve the depths of humanity in some way, shape, or form. Throughout these deeds there should be a universal source of the qualities revealed that display heroism such as bravery, humility, strength, and passion. However, the qualities of an everyday hero that stands out among the crowd includes the strength to endure through obstacles and the ability to stay humble throughout triumphs.

Hamm taking a corner kickhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mia_HammOne person who embodies strength through adversity and humility is professional women’s soccer player, Mia Hamm. Hamm is considered to be one of the best female soccer players not only in U.S history, but also in the world. Being in a military family, she lived in numerous locations, but the one factor that remained with her was her constant passion for soccer. She started her National Team career at age 15 and was the youngest player to play on the senior team. Playing with the National Team, she won two World Cups and two Olympic gold medals. Additionally, she attended college at UNC, winning four NCAA Championships. Throughout her career, she had many ups and downs, but used that as fuel to make her stronger as a player and person. She continuously accounted for other people’s feelings before her own regarding any of her accomplishments or fame. Therefore, Mia Hamm serves as an influential role model in society not only because she revolutionized women’s sports, but she did so while surmounting any adversity that came her way during her career, and keeping a sense of humility throughout her top-notch titles.

Hamm’s ability to conquer catastrophes and still be able to have success on the soccer field is a quality that many continuously admire. One event that created a toll on Hamm’s life was the passing of her inspiration and brother, Garrett: “The painful emotional toll it took on me and my family was incredible. I missed the first two games of the Olympic Victory Tour… but I knew that even though the game I love paled in importance compared to losing Garrett, I needed to get back on the field” (Hamm 38). As stated by Hamm, Garrett’s death was the biggest obstacle she had to eventually deal with and overcome. She says that it was “painful” and “emotional” which symbolizes how this tragedy really struck her heart in a way that she hadn’t experienced. This event had such an effect on Hamm’s life that her passion of playing soccer had “paled in importance”. Having to deal with a family passing is hard for anyone, let alone having to uphold a reputation simultaneously . Nonetheless, her passion and perseverance soon drove her to subdue this struggle as she knew that getting back on the pitch was pivotal to creating an everlasting mark on history. Following Garrett’s passing, Hamm scored a goal only thirty seconds into her first game back. Being able to cope with the distress she dealt with while still being able to impressively showcase her talents distinctively demonstrates the strength she has to face adversity. Soccer players of all ages look up to Hamm because she confronts mishaps with such grace and professionalism. Another incident of Hamm utilizing her strength through adversity involves her serious ankle injury during a crucial game of the Olympics against their rival, China : “Hamm, who was playing on a badly sprained ankle, was all over the field… she took a cross from Christine Lilly and shot it past the goalie… After China tied the score, Hamm took the ball… crossed the ball to Joy Fawcett… for the game-winning goal” (Gale: Biography in Context “Mia Hamm”). This is significant because ankle injuries are the focal point of soccer injuries; they are very common and difficult to cure to some extent. This was not an everyday ankle sprain either; it is emphasized that it was a “badly sprained ankle”. These injuries usually take about two to three weeks to fully heal, yet Hamm persevered to make an impact on the game. While dealing with this troublesome setback, she was still able to positively contribute to the match as she not only scored, but also played a major role in the game-winner. This not only highlights her proficiency, but her ability to persevere through one of the most austere injuries in soccer. Her decision to play the match while obtaining a severe sprain demonstrates that she isn’t afraid to handle any challenges that come her way. Hamm’s ability to conquer adversity while performing well on the soccer field inspires others to not let setbacks block the path towards prosperity.  

Hamm earning the Golden Foot Awardhttps://www.zimbio.com/photosIn addition to her admirable strength, a main feat that separates Mia Hamm from other world-class athletes and also helps better the people around her is her humility towards her top-notch titles. An iconic example of Hamm’s humble mindset involves her response to the title of being the best women’s soccer player in the world: “Many people say I’m the best women’s soccer player in the world. I don’t think so. And because of that, someday I just might be” (Hamm 3). If any other athlete were to receive that high of a title, they would’ve gladly accepted this title and proudly gloat about it. Disregarding this stereotype, Hamm says, “I don’t think so… and someday I just might be” which refers to her mindset of self-improvement over the dwelling over accomplishments.This displays her heroic values because she sets a good example for anyone who looks up to her; through her selfless mindset she demonstrates that focusing on the next step of the journey is more beneficial than being fixated on success. Although Hamm has always made a constant commitment to stay humble to herself, her attitude also carried on to her team. An instance when Hamm’s humility is shown to have a positive impact on those who surround her is when her former teammate, Julie Foudy, discusses how Hamm’s attitude impacted the national team in her article, “The Essence of Mia Hamm”: “Whenever she accepted an award, Mia would spend the first 10 minutes thanking her teammates, family, coaches, friends… etc., for helping her achieve success. She did it honestly and never for show…  She set the standard for all of us to follow” (Foudy). As Foudy stated, Hamm would spend the “first” minutes of her speech solely dedicated to everyone who helped her on her journey; she never put herself as the priority. It is also emphasized that she thanked others “Whenever” she could which means that Hamm consistently made sure that the people who assisted her were acknowledged and appreciated. Due to this high standard that she set for the team to always think about others before themselves, her team became more appreciative of the people around them and were reminded to not always dwell on the personal accomplishment itself, but how the journey went to get to that accomplishment. Hamm’s humble attitude towards her accomplishments is what ultimately separates her from other world-class athletes. She proves herself to be above what society thinks of the average athlete; her actions display how she uses her humility to better herself and set an influential example for those who look up to her. Additionally, due to her selfless mentality, she was able to create a more positive team environment which built the foundation for her as a team leader and influencer.

Hamm running a clinic for kidshttps://www.thinkadvisor.comMia Hamm remains a relevant hero in society because she was able to open up the path for women’s soccer for girls in America; she did so while persevering through obstacles and staying humble throughout her many accomplishments. She acted based on impulse to create a positive impact on others’ lives and not for the biographical embellishments. Her fight through family tragedies and career-risking injuries led to numerous victories, athletic honors, and the recognition of women’s soccer in America. Despite her several obtained awards, she remained humble and consistently believed that she always had room for improvement. Her humility and determination ultimately resulted in her being a main factor in the victories of her major feats: two Women’s World Cups and two Olympic gold medals. Mia Hamm has inspired not only myself, but also others because she has proven that no matter what age or gender someone is, they can have a positive influence on society. She built the empire of women’s soccer out of nothing, and showcased that women can create an everlasting impact in sports just the same as men. Growing up, I would watch her play and feel exhilarated by her determination to win every single game. She taught me that the fight for success will never be easy, but the reward speaks for itself in the end. Hamm has inspired me to also reach for my goals, despite how hard that path may be. It took me about two years to get into the National Team pool, and it was always heartbreaking to see the roster for the camp go out and I wouldn’t be on it; however, Hamm inspired me to keep on pushing through the hardships I faced. Now, I am in the National Team pool representing the country for my age group, just like Mia was at my age. Additionally, being an everyday citizen, she connects with her fan base as we feel like we are playing with her. As she states towards the end of her book: “People can relate to us. The little girls looked down on the field and saw themselves. We were them. They were us. We won together”(Hamm 243). Mia Hamm has emphasized the significance of fighting for a cause not for yourself, but to empower others. Her humility and moments of strength have put herself as a role model for female athletes around the country. She exhibits the idea that heroism shines through in ordinary people who act to create a positive impact on society, and fought to bring women’s soccer to the attention of America in a time of male-dominate sports. Through Mia Hamm, people can learn that fighting for a purpose will eventually pay off despite the circumstances or factors that may halt that journey. She did the impossible, she endured, and she built the strength to overcome any obstacles to reveal the heroism inside of her.

 Works Consulted

Hamm, Mia, and Aaron Heifetz. Go for the Goal:a Champion's Guide to Winning in Soccer and Life. Quill, 2002.

"Mia Hamm." Great Women in Sports, Gale, 1996. Biography in Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1615000058/BIC1?u=powa9245&xid=8aaebd03. Accessed 21 Dec. 2017.

"Mia Hamm." Notable Sports Figures, edited by Dana R. Barnes, Gale, 2004. Biography in Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K2440301211/BIC1?u=powa9245&xid=09e934c8. Accessed 21 Dec. 2017

“The Essence of Mia Hamm.” ESPN, ESPN Internet Ventures, www.espn.com/espnw/title-ix/article/8078671/the-essence-mia-hamm.