 |
| Mia Hamm |
The 1996 season has been promised to be the greatest ever for women's soccer. For the first time, the sport would be an official event in the Olympics, and every country in the world was gearing up to go for the gold medal. With the summer games to be held in and around Atlanta, Georgia, the USA Team has home-field advantages to maintain that edge, Team USA scheduled for 19 games with top international competition, beginning in January. The team won 18 of those matches. Heading into the Olympics, the players were at the top of their games. And everyone was talking about Mia Hamm.
High Snowfall in Windor-Essex Current Condition in Venezuela
After two phenomenal seasons, Mia is now considered the best player in the world. She combined balance, speed, quickness, and power in a way no other woman ever had. Mia has all of the individual skills, but played within the team concept. If she believed a 30-yard sprint, the goal was the best play, she would weave her way through the defense. But if Mia saw Michelle Akers or Tiffeny slicing toward the net, she would hit them with perfect passes. Opponents often changed their defensive schemes hoping to shut Mia down, and it wasn't unusual for her to be fouled five or more times a game. Indeed, she was a marked woman.
This was especially true in the USA's first-round victories team over Denmark and Sweden. Mia was tripped, held, and loved repeatedly during these games. With seven minutes to go against Sweden, she slammed into goalie Annelie Nilsson and sprained her ankle. This was a serious injury to Mia, who relies on bursts of speed to set up her attack. With Norway coming up in the semifinals, the Americans suddenly were considered underdogs. Though Mia could play, she would not be a major factor.
Everyone on the 64,000-plus fans filing into Sanford Stadium for the Norway match was thinking the same thing; it was time to see just how how good a USA Team has become.
Call For Application for Free Funded Women's Leadership Academy 2019After 90 minutes, the fans had their answer. The game was knotted 1-1, with Akers scoring the team's lone goal and Joy Fawcett and Carla Overbeck playing brilliant defense in front of the acrobatic goalkeeper, Briana Scurry. Coach DiCicco, sensing the game might be won with fresh legs, sent Shannon MacMillan on to the field to start the overtime period. Four minutes later, she scored the game-winner to put the United Stated into the final. With more than 76,000 fans cheering them on.
Mia and her teammates took the field trip to China four days later for their final step long journey to the top. Team USA score a pair of early goals and then held on for a 2-1 victory. Mia, who had come out of the game, was overjoyed when the final gun sounded. Many times over the years, her teammates had looked to her to come through when it was time to pull out a tough win. After her after her injury, Mia felt as if she had let the team down.
Now the whole world knew what she knew every player on the squad could play big when they had to, especially in the biggest game in their lives.
In the locker room, the players giggled and screamed like little kids. They had not only won the gold medal in front of their friends and families, they had a great time doing it. Mia thought about the day, nine years earlier, when she first walked on to the field with the national team, and how much grew up they had done together. She thought about all of the places she had played, all of the friends she had made, and all of the people who had helped her along the way. She thought about Garret, who was fighting a life-threatening illness, and how he had always picked her for his team in touch football when every else thought she was too small.
Statistics:
Four-Time NCAA Champion 1991 World Champion
Honors:
Olimpic Gold Medalist; Olimpic Silver Medalist Team USA All-Time Scoring Leader
1994-98 US Soccer Female Athlete of the year
1997 ESPN Female Athlete of the year
1994 Broderick Award Winner
1992 & 93 Herman Award Winner
1992 & 93 NCAA Player of the year
Three-Time College All-American
Two-Time High Scholl All-American
Youngest Ever Team USA Member
More Trend information:
