28

There was a comfort at that age that I didnt have earlier on in my career.

By the timeMia Hammwas 28, she was already 13 years into her soccer career and her stardom.

I wouldnt say things were easy, but they just made a lot more sense, Hamm tells Bustle.

Soccer star Mia Hamm looks back on life at age 28.

I could read defenses and I could communicate better with my teammates.

There was a comfort at that age that I didnt have earlier on in my career.

These days, Hamm is working off the field withIncyte to raise awareness for Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

Mia Hamm runs to control the ball during the game against Team Canada for the First Pacific Cup at t…

I want people to know that were here to support them and cheer them on, Hamm says.

Their journey is long but they have people in their corner to encourage them and celebrate them.

I felt pretty good.

Mia Hamm at the Sydney Football Stadium on Day 13 of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

When youre younger, you make a lot of mistakes in the physical realm.

Everything is about running faster.

Then, as you get older, because of experience, you dont make the same mistakes.

Mia Hamm #19 of the Washington Freedom signs autographs before a game against the Carolina Courage a…

Instead, you put yourself in a better position on the field.

I was in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Everything revolved around soccer.

Then I would go hit golf balls.

But its also a game where you have to be where your feet are to be successful.

I love what golf asks of me every single day.

We realized our family needed a lot of help.

My brother was adopted, so we struggled to find a match for him in the national donor registry.

He fought so hard and had so much grace and a sense of humor until the very last day.

For me, the foundation was a way to celebrate that connection that we had.

We were so close, but we lost in the gold medal game.

I wasnt counting my goals.

I was more just like, Wow, I scored at the Olympics.

And more importantly, I was focused on helping my team win.

Youre just like, Hooray, we won and are able to play in the Olympic final.

I loved to cook.

My days were focused on training.

No, but that came from being one of six kids.

My siblings put me in my place early.

One of my sisters said, Just because youre on TV doesnt mean youre better than us.

It was hard at the beginning to have the spotlight on me.

Its a team game, so my success was based on the people around me and vice versa.

If I messed up or wasnt successful, it bothered me.

Usually a lot of silence and introspection.

Id go over different scenarios in the game and how I could have done it better.

It helps you refocus and say, How could I have done that better?

and try not to make those same mistakes in the future.

That was actually one of my biggest issues when I played.

I was always thinking of the next thing, rather than enjoying the moment.

Its one of the reasons why I love golf so much.

You cant carry your frustration around during a game because it just gets in your way.

Any tension in your golf swing is bad.

But in golf, the harder you try the worse it gets.

I hope she would be proud and say it wasnt perfect, but thats OK.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.