Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Brandi Chastain
Brandi Denise Chastain (born July 21, 1968) is a soccer player who has been a member of the award winning United States women's national soccer team since 1991.
She attended Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, California, helping take the team to three state championships.
Chastain enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley in 1986, where she was awarded the Soccer America Freshmen Player Of The Year award. Soon after this she underwent reconstructive surgery on both her knees which caused her to miss much of the 1987 and 1988 seasons. In 1989, she transferred to Santa Clara University, leading their soccer team to two final four NCAA appearances before graduating in 1990.
Chastain first represented her country on April 18 1991 against Mexico. She came off the bench to score five consecutive goals in a 12-0 United States win, in what was a qualifying game for the first FIFA Women's World Cup. Team USA went on to win the World Cup, staged in China, in the same year. Chastain next participated with the national team in the 1993 CONCACAF championships of New York, another tournament which the Americans won. Later in 1993 she joined the West Team, which won the gold medal at the Texas Olympic Festival.
Her first era as a member of the national team came to an end on August 8 of that year, but she made the team once again in 1996 and participated in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, helping the Americans win the gold medal.
Chastain became a household name in 1999, when, after helping the United States beat China in the final game of that year's Women's World Cup, she celebrated by taking off her jersey and kneeling down in the middle of the field with only her sports bra and her shorts on. This action was seen by many as a demonstration of female power by Chastain. She was signed to a million dollar contract by Nike afterwards, and other companies, such as Playboy Magazine, sought her presence on their products.
Chastain still plays on the US women's national team as of 2004. She participated in the Women's United Soccer Association from its formation in 2001 until its suspension in 2003. She enjoys all the attention and fame that moment brought her, always seemingly willing to have photos taken and sign autographs for her fans.
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