Mia Hamm was born on March 17, 1972 in Selma, Alabama. She grew up in a house with five brothers and sisters, and her parents would plan their vacations around her soccer schedule (Hruby C01) Her full name is Mariel Margaret Hamm, and she began playing and excelling at soccer at a young age. She played in high school for Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia, where she was an NSCAA All-American. She also played at Notre Dame High School in Wichita Falls, Texas. At the age of fifteen, she played on the U.S. National Team, and was the youngest player ever to play on the team. The U.S. team won two Women's World Cups in 1991 and 1999, and two Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2004, while she was a member. She played forward for her collegiate team at the University of North Carolina, and led them to four NCAA titles.

She then went on to a professional soccer career with the Washington Freedom. In addition, "Hamm won the 1993-94 Ho

She retired at the age of 31 from her soccer career; content that she had played as well as she could for as long as she could. She noted before her own retirement, "'I watched Pete Sampras' retirement speech,' Hamm recalls. 'He talked about how you just know when it's the right time. That's the way I feel'" (Hruby C01). She continued, "'Am I going to miss it? Absolutely. It's been a part of my life. These players have been a part of my life for the last 18 years and will continue to be'" (Hruby (C01). It seems the fans will miss her too. While women's professional soccer succumbed to poor crowds and eventually shut down, the organization is attempting a comeback, and many people credit Mia Hamm for soccer's popularity in the first place. She brought the world's eye onto the game because of her abilities and her longevity. But Mia Hamm is more than a soccer player. She is an inspiration to young women everywhere, not only because of her awards and medals and her talent, but because of her dedication, her well-rounded education, and her continuing support of causes and sports that can make a difference in people's lives. Mia Hamm is an inspiration because of who she is and what she does, and because she does it with dignity, humor, and great poise.

So, who is Mia Hamm, really? Is she an athlete? Yes. Is she a wife, aunt, woman, and mentor? Yes. Is she a role model with a college degree and a strong sense of community? Yes. Is she someone the U.S. is proud to call her own? Yes. But most of all, Mia Hamm is someone with a commitment to making the world a better place. She supports involvement and awareness in bone marrow research and treatme

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