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Mia Hamm
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Mia Hamm is one of the most prolific soccer players of all time. She has scored more goals (158) in international soccer play than any other athlete. She's also played in more international matches (275) than anyone except fellow U.S. women's soccer player Kristine Lilly.
Mia Hamm was born on March 17, 1972 in Selma, Alabama. Mia is a nickname. Her full real name is Mariel Margaret Hamm. She enjoyed sports as a kid and was very good at soccer. At the young age of 15 she became the youngest player ever to play for the women's U.S. National Soccer Team. A few years later, Mia's would become a star in soccer when, at the age of 19, she helped the U.S. National Team win a World Cup Championship. From there Mia went on to help the team win two Olympic Gold Medals (1996, 2004), another World Cup Championship (1999), and an Olympic Silver Medal (2000).
Her all-time goal record is even more impressive when you consider that she was consistently marked as the player to stop by opposing teams. Mia's skill allowed her score while double and triple teamed by some of the best defenders in the world. Mia also had a team leading 144 career assists showing how skilled she was at passing the ball.
Mia also played for the women's professional team the Washington Freedom from 2001 to 2003 where she scored 25 goals in 49 appearances.
Where did Mia Hamm go to college?
Mia went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). North Carolina won 4 national championships with Mia Hamm. Mia played a total of 95 games for North Carolina and they only lost 1 out of those 95! She finished her college career as the ACC all-time leader in goals (103), assists (72), and points (278).
Does Mia Hamm still play soccer?
Mia retired from soccer in 2004 at the age of 32. She probably still plays for fun, but she no longer plays soccer for the U.S. National Team or professionally.
Fun Facts about Mia Hamm
- Mia was in the HBO documentary called Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team.
- She wrote a book titled Go for the Goal: A Champions Guide to Winning in Soccer and Life.
- Mia is married to professional baseball player Nomar Garciaparra.
- Mia was voted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
- She started the Mia Hamm foundation to help Bone Marrow Research.
- The largest building at Nike headquarters is named after Mia Hamm.
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Kid's Poll |
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Which of these cities would you most like to visit on vacation?
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Joke of the Day |
Q: Knock, knock----Who's there?----Nobel----Nobel who?
A: No bell, that's why I knocked!
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Today In History |
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Who was born on this day:
1859 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Author of Sherlock Holmes novels)
1982 Apollo Anton Ohno (Olympic speed skater)
What happened today in history:
1960 The strongest earthquake ever recorded (9.5) hits Chile.
1967 The first episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
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