Mia Hamm

Mia Hamm has been my role model when it comes to sports since the time I was a little girl. For those of you who don't know of her legacy, she was the youngest player on the National US Women's Soccer Team, joining at 15. She was an extremely valued part of this trailblazing team that won the gold in the World Cups of 1991 and 1999, and in the Olympics of 1996 and 2004. She herself was named FIFAs World Player of the Year in both 2001 and 2002 and held the record for the most international goals scored until 2013, when American Abby Wambach beat her out. For more information on Mia Hamm and her immense success, please visit http://www.biography.com/people/mia-hamm-16472547#synopsis. 

Now you probably see why she was an inspiration for thousands of girls all over the US who aspired to be soccer players. The team of 1991 made a name for US women’s soccer and set the path for the future boom of youth soccer in America. They were truly revolutionary in a sense, and the Women’s National Team has certainly maintained their high respect in the international world, seeing as they won the previous World Cup in the summer of 2015 and have been ranked 1^st-3^rd in the world continuously since 2003. But why am I telling you all of this? Mia Hamm is an athlete that is known not only for her success, but is also known to have many iconic and inspirational quotes to her name. My favorite quote of hers (and really I suppose of anyone) is about the value of hard work and commitment required in reaching ones true potential.

“The vision of a champion is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion, when nobody else is looking.”
               To me this speaks volumes. And I feel that you could take this quote in two different, but equally valid directions. The first way to take it is that a champion does not have to be the one who crosses the finish line first. A true champion is the one who works to be as good as they can possibly be, is determined, and is hungry to reach their potential. We can’t all become Olympic medalists in this lifetime, but we can all become champions in our own right. When one strives for greatness and has the discipline to achieve their own level of personal greatness, then they are champions as well. 

Another way to interpret this quote is that no one can become a champion by being lazy. People only see champions out on the field in all their glory under the lights, but the truth is, 98% of the time they spend play their sport, they are practicing and preparing to achieve in the moments that the fans see. Champions are made at practice and through hard work, not on the field in front of their friends, family, and fans. Champions must train long and hard to achieve greatness, and there are no shortcuts.

So not matter which approach you take when looking at this quote (or maybe of see both?) no one can deny that it is definitely a thought provoking quote for competitive athletes.  Think about this quote the next time you are out by yourself busting you butt, because you may just let it give you the motivation to push through toward your ultimate goal.