Mariel Margaret "Mia" Hamm is a retired American professional soccer player. She played many years as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team and was a founding member of the Washington Freedom. Hamm held the record for international goals, with 158 goals, more than any other player, male or female, in the history of soccer, until 2013 when fellow American Abby Wambach scored her 159th goal to break the record. Hamm was named the women's FIFA World Player of the Year the first two times that award was given, and is listed as one of FIFA's 125 best living players being one of two women, accompanied by teammate Michelle Akers. She was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame as well as the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and the World Football Hall of Fame.
Born in Selma, Alabama on March 17, 1972 to parents Bill and Stephanie Hamm, Mariel Margaret Hamm, nicknamed Mia, was the fourth of six children. Hamm spent her childhood on United States Air Force bases with her parents and siblings. The family moved many times and resided in several places including San Antonio, Texas, and Italy. Florence, Italy is where Hamm was first introduced to soccer. Soon her whole family became very involved in the sport. She has six sisters, and 2 brothers, her sister's names are Lovdy, Tiffany, and Caroline. her brothers are Garrett and Martin, but Garrett died at an early age.
In 1975, Mia was on her first team which was a boys team. Her dad was the coach of that team. In March of 1987, Mia became the youngest girl to ever play on the United States Women's National Soccer team at the age of 15. 1991 was her first big playing opportunity. She played in her first World Cup and scored 2 goals and they got first place. In 1996, she played in her first Olympics and won gold. In the finals of the Olympics in 1996, The United States Won against China 2-1, but Mia got hurt in the last minutes of the game. 1999 was also a big year for her. The world cup was in the US, and they won against China with her penalty kick. She also got a silver medal in 2000 in the Olympics. In 2003, she married her second husband, Nomar Garciapara. A formal baseball player. 2004 was the last year she played professionally, she won the gold medal, and at the end of the year, she went on a tour playing different country's teams, to celebrate her retirement. Her last game was on December 8, 2004.
In 2007, she gave birth to twin girls, Grace Isabella and Ava Caroline. 2012 was when she gave birth to her son, Garrett. She named him Garrett Anthony. I believe he was named after her Hamm's brother Garrett. She also created a foundation to help people that have the same disease that her brother Garrett died of.
Born in Selma, Alabama on March 17, 1972 to parents Bill and Stephanie Hamm, Mariel Margaret Hamm, nicknamed Mia, was the fourth of six children. Hamm spent her childhood on United States Air Force bases with her parents and siblings. The family moved many times and resided in several places including San Antonio, Texas, and Italy. Florence, Italy is where Hamm was first introduced to soccer. Soon her whole family became very involved in the sport. She has six sisters, and 2 brothers, her sister's names are Lovdy, Tiffany, and Caroline. her brothers are Garrett and Martin, but Garrett died at an early age.
In 1975, Mia was on her first team which was a boys team. Her dad was the coach of that team. In March of 1987, Mia became the youngest girl to ever play on the United States Women's National Soccer team at the age of 15. 1991 was her first big playing opportunity. She played in her first World Cup and scored 2 goals and they got first place. In 1996, she played in her first Olympics and won gold. In the finals of the Olympics in 1996, The United States Won against China 2-1, but Mia got hurt in the last minutes of the game. 1999 was also a big year for her. The world cup was in the US, and they won against China with her penalty kick. She also got a silver medal in 2000 in the Olympics. In 2003, she married her second husband, Nomar Garciapara. A formal baseball player. 2004 was the last year she played professionally, she won the gold medal, and at the end of the year, she went on a tour playing different country's teams, to celebrate her retirement. Her last game was on December 8, 2004.
In 2007, she gave birth to twin girls, Grace Isabella and Ava Caroline. 2012 was when she gave birth to her son, Garrett. She named him Garrett Anthony. I believe he was named after her Hamm's brother Garrett. She also created a foundation to help people that have the same disease that her brother Garrett died of.