United States

Who is…Katie Bam

Katie Bam has been with the U.S. national team for over a decade and is one of the top goal scoring threats for Team USA. In her Olympic debut in 2012, she scored one goal.

Field hockey beginnings
Bam joined the national team at the age of 16, becoming the youngest field hockey player ever to earn an international appearance  for Team USA. After making her international debut in 2005, she played for the University of Maryland.

Major competitions/medals
2011 Pan American Games, gold
2012 Olympics, 12th
2015 Pan American Games, gold

Breakout moment
Despite debuting in 2005, Bam did not make the 2008 Olympic team. The disappointment pushed her to improve and she was named the 2010 USA National Team Athlete of the Year.

Top quote

This is going to sound really weird, but I love the locker room stuff. The talks, the camaraderie that doesn't have much to do with the on-field action. It's everything that a teammate van give you a smile, a complement and your entire day and mindset have changed.

Olympic experience
Bam made her Olympic debut at the 2012 London Games where Team USA finished 12th.

Off the field
In 2010, Bam was awarded the Sportswoman of the Year by the Women’s Sports Foundation, an award Mia Hamm, Serena Williams and Abby Wambach have also earned. In 2015, she married former South African field hockey player and 2008 Olympian Marvin Bam. Katie and Marvin both enjoy photography and were even asked to shoot U.S. national team goalkeeper Jackie Brigg’s wedding.

Social media
Facebook: Katie O’Donnell
Twitter: @KatieODonnellFh
Instagram: @katieod16

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