Passion
"Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it."

—Mia Hamm


Mia Hamm was born March 17, 1972, in Selma, Ala. Surprisingly, the soccer champion—named women’s FIFA World Player of the year in 2001 and 2002, and listed as one of FIFA’s 125 best living players (as chosen by Pelé)—was born with a club foot and had to wear corrective shoes as a small child.

These challenges didn’t stop her, however. She has noted, “If you don’t love what you do, you won’t do it with much conviction or passion,” and clearly, she loved playing sports. She was athletic throughout her childhood and, by age 15, became the youngest player ever to join the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. In 1991, when the team won the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time, 19-year-old Hamm became the youngest American woman to win a World Cup championship.

Afterward, Hamm continued her education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where her team won four NCAA championships and lost just one game out of the 95 she played. Recognizing her role, the team named her Female Athlete of the Year in 1993 and 1994. Hamm brushed off praise for her individual success, saying, “I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion.”

On May 22, 1999, Hamm broke the all-time international goal record with her 108th goal in a game against Brazil. She said of her work to achieve that goal, “I am building a fire, and every day I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match.”

Like any player, Hamm has experienced setbacks, but she takes a philosophical approach. “Failure happens all the time,” she has said. “It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.”

Of course, Hamm grew accustomed to great success during her career. The capstone was the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, when she helped lead Team USA to a gold medal, and her fellow U.S. Olympians chose her to carry the American flag at the Athens Closing Ceremonies. Hamm retired in 2004, at age 32, with 158 international goals—still the international record for men or women players.

Passion
Pass It On!

This billboard about Passion features Mia Hamm; athlete, soccer player, Olympic Medalist.

Pass It On®

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Such an inspiration! Ive been thinking about playing travel soccer because I love it so much and I think if I put enough passion into this sport I could be great like her :)

Anonymous
May 19, 2022

When I look at the american flag at one of the stars I see soccer players from the past Mia Hamm is in it!

Violetta from Detroit, Michigan
May 10, 2021

She is such an incredible player, she was executing her game plan in the league.

Carlo Leonel Sifuentes from Houston Texas
April 28, 2021

such an amazing person and player

lauren from wheaton
September 18, 2020

Mia you are amazing

no one from no where
January 10, 2019

Your so inspiring to all the soccer players out there. You go girl!

Anonymous
March 13, 2018

Mia you go girl you are so inspiring to me and now I love soccer even more than I did before because I love to play soccer

Mailyn from hurden looker school
February 28, 2018

Mia is so inspiring Can she adopt me I love to play soccer

Mailyn from School
February 28, 2018

this story is very inspiring and motivated me

Logan Taylor from no where
February 5, 2018

You are so amazing to me & inspartional

Anonymous
October 17, 2017

Doing a project on her, truly an inspiration

Aubrey from MD
October 11, 2017

Wow what a inspirational person!

Muffincat from The king of muffins
March 23, 2017

Mia Hamm is why i started soccer love you mia!!!

Ella from Gehr
October 18, 2016

Thank you mia hamm you inspire me even when I think I can't do it..!!!!!!!!!!!!

Katelyn from Troup,tx
October 11, 2016

SHE is AWSESOME

Brady from STALKER
September 21, 2016

she is great and hi

why do u need to know my name
September 21, 2016

She is plain awesome

Roquel from Toronto
March 16, 2016

wow!

makayla
March 1, 2016

I never knew she had a club foot! I love her even more!

Alayna from Hopkins, MI
February 17, 2016

Mia Hamm is the most hard-working woman I've ever seen. The pressure she puts on the field is amazing. Soccer became great because of her!!

Kara from Hopkins, MI
February 3, 2016

Mia Hamm is so awsome because she keeps on working hard.

caleb
January 26, 2016

Mia Hamm,your such a great player. You have inspired me to be come a better soccer player. And I love ur Quotes

Madison Christler from cody wy
January 14, 2016

Awesome

Nothing
January 12, 2016

Yo this is cool

Isaiah from Melbourne
December 4, 2015

it goes to show if you love something so much, you can become successful in it!!

layla
December 2, 2015

such a great story... my dream would to be as successful as her

layla from toronto
December 2, 2015

She really inspires me

Olivia
November 17, 2015

I think this is amazing because I play soccer and maybe I can be like her when I am older

Olivia
November 17, 2015

Be honest!

Trinton Reeves
October 13, 2015

She really inspires me

Barbie from 90210
September 28, 2015

My Personal Favorite of the Pass It On billboards

NULL from NULL
May 27, 2015

let love into your heart don't let hate it your heart

NULL from NULL
October 8, 2014

If we are passionate in every aspect of life we are fulfilling a great purpose!

Ms. Kimberly Davis from Ocala, Fl.
September 8, 2014

If you want it you can get it

Armando from Hermosillo
September 1, 2014

i love soccer so ya

madi from naperville
April 7, 2014

she is really cool

jose from california
March 20, 2014

passion in and for life is what we live for. without it we can feel lost.

Lora from home
March 2, 2014

I love you

abby from 61first street
September 12, 2013

I love Mia, she is so passionate and love's to play the game. I love the game as much as she does, but she probably love's it alittle more. She is my hero, and I will allways love her and her determaination. She is amazing. One of her favorite goals was To Be The Best, and she did exactly that.

audri from los al, CA
May 1, 2012

She is awsome I have followed her since she started playing.

Steven Taylor from Coldwater P.S
February 1, 2012

Only People with fire can deliver the fire so is passion...Mia's life was one ...Hats Off to Mia ....God Bless you

George Amir from Scarboro, Ont
January 18, 2012

I pass Mia's sign on my way to work every morning, and that photo ALWAYS makes me smile. I'm a runner and I've just lost nearly 50 lbs. I find it so inspirational - many runs I find myself thinking "kicked her way to the top" over and over, especially on hills (which I admit to hating with a passion). That photo of Mia - it's so blatantly joyous and it's so inspirational.

Laura Carter from North Carolina
December 13, 2011

I like this cause it shows people that they shouldnt ever give up

rachel from school
November 17, 2011

she is cool.

erica mease from omaha,Ne
November 16, 2011

i like this statement because it tells a lot about her and how she helped us

banania from ohio NE
November 16, 2011

she is a really good person

Trae'Von thompson from omaha,Ne
November 16, 2011

She is phenomenal and my heroine. She is so passionate about the game.

Adu Joseph from Lagos Nigeria
July 30, 2011

Here are some other billboards you might like.