Mia Hamm is undeniably the greatest athlete of all time. A great athlete goes beyond athleticism and talent. Mia Hamm changed the game of women’s soccer. She was, and still is, an integral part of the success of the sport at a professional level. For 17 years she played forward. Her awards and accolades are incredible. She won four World Cups, three Olympic medals, and is a two-time FIFA World Player of the Year. During her time as a player on the national team, she was a part of an Olympic team that changed the game for women’s sports. Since her retirement, she has continued to support women in sports. The thing that makes Mia Hamm the GOAT, more than any other athlete, goes beyond her talent. All professional athletes are talented, and she is obviously incredibly talented athletically, but what sets her apart is her love of the sport and what she did to change the game. She was part of the group of women that set a precedent that women would fight for inclusion and equality beyond Title IX, and that’s what truly makes her the greatest of all time.

-Zoey Perrine