Lorrie Fair
Encyclopedia
Lorraine Ming "Lorrie" Fair (born August 5, 1978) was a member of the World Cup Champion United States national soccer
team. Over the span of ten years, she was a part of one World Cup Team and three Olympic teams, and retired from international play in 2005.
Her twin sister, Veronica (Ronnie) Ching Fair, (now Veronica Fair Sullins) was also a member of the national team, and when Ronnie was called in to participate in a game against England on May 9, 1997 at San Jose, California
, it became the first time a pair of sisters played together in the Women's National Team.
Lorrie and Ronnie both participated on Los Altos High School's female soccer team in Los Altos, California
, where they grew up. They were born at Stanford Hospital, but moved to New York for three years before returning to the Bay Area in 1982. While Ronnie chose Stanford to go to college, Lorrie decided on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
instead, but not before being a two time NSCAA all-American and Parade magazine
all-American. At UNC, she was picked as one of Soccer Americas freshmen of the year, and she helped lead UNC to the NCAA championship
in 1996, 1997, and 1999.
She joined the Under 20 national team in 1994, playing, among other events, in the Nordic Cup. In 1995, she was a member of the West Team at the US Olympic Festival, and she was invited to train with the National team. At 17 and a senior in high school, she was named an alternate for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games
team that won the Gold.
Fair had made her senior international debut against Norway
in February 1996. In March 1998 she scored her first international goal against New Zealand at RFK Stadium
.
After being an alternate on the 1996 Olympic team, she earned a more permanent spot on the team and in 1999, she was the youngest member of the team that won the that year's FIFA Women's World Cup. She played every minute of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, taking home a silver medal after an overtime loss to Norway in the championship game. In her last world event, she was an alternate on the Gold Medal winning Olympic team in 2004 and then retired in 2005 with 120 international appearances.
She played for the Philadelphia Charge in the WUSA (2001 - 2003), Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon, France (2004 - 2005), and Chelsea FC in the UK (2008 - 2009).
Lorrie, Ronnie and their older brother, Greg all got their start and played for many years in AYSO Region 43.
She most recently played for Chelsea
in the FA Women's Premier League
. On February 1, 2008, it was announced that Fair had signed for Chelsea Ladies
as a player, for whom she had been working solely as an ambassador up to that point. Fair vowed to continue her work with the club at grass roots level. The move was significant as she became the first American
international to sign for a club in the Women's Premier League
. Fair suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury in May 2008, which ruled her out of the following season.
Her work in the sport for development field has been ongoing since the age of 16. She is an athlete ambassador for Right To Play and Show Racism the Red Card. She also serves in the Sport Envoy Program run by the US State Department in conjunction with the US Soccer Federation, going on envoys abroad to promote healthy lifestyles, and sport for diplomacy.
Since 2008, Fair has worked with several projects, such as Charlize Theron
's Africa Outreach Project and her own Kickabout Africa 2010 project, to promote development efforts in Africa.
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
team. Over the span of ten years, she was a part of one World Cup Team and three Olympic teams, and retired from international play in 2005.
Her twin sister, Veronica (Ronnie) Ching Fair, (now Veronica Fair Sullins) was also a member of the national team, and when Ronnie was called in to participate in a game against England on May 9, 1997 at San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, it became the first time a pair of sisters played together in the Women's National Team.
Lorrie and Ronnie both participated on Los Altos High School's female soccer team in Los Altos, California
Los Altos, California
Los Altos is a city at the southern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The city is in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 28,976 according to the 2010 census....
, where they grew up. They were born at Stanford Hospital, but moved to New York for three years before returning to the Bay Area in 1982. While Ronnie chose Stanford to go to college, Lorrie decided on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
instead, but not before being a two time NSCAA all-American and Parade magazine
Parade (magazine)
Parade is an American nationwide Sunday newspaper magazine, distributed in more than 500 newspapers in the United States. It was founded in 1941 and is owned by Advance Publications. The most widely read magazine in the U.S., Parade has a circulation of 32.2 million and a readership of nearly 70...
all-American. At UNC, she was picked as one of Soccer Americas freshmen of the year, and she helped lead UNC to the NCAA championship
NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
NCAA Women's Soccer Championships are divided into three divisions. This article lists NCAA Women's soccer championships.-Division I:The NCAA began conducting a Women's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1982 with a 12-team tournament...
in 1996, 1997, and 1999.
She joined the Under 20 national team in 1994, playing, among other events, in the Nordic Cup. In 1995, she was a member of the West Team at the US Olympic Festival, and she was invited to train with the National team. At 17 and a senior in high school, she was named an alternate for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
team that won the Gold.
Fair had made her senior international debut against Norway
Norway women's national football team
The Norway women's national football team represents Norway in international women's football. The team, controlled by the Football Association of Norway, are former European, World and Olympic champions and thus one of the most successful national teams...
in February 1996. In March 1998 she scored her first international goal against New Zealand at RFK Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United....
.
After being an alternate on the 1996 Olympic team, she earned a more permanent spot on the team and in 1999, she was the youngest member of the team that won the that year's FIFA Women's World Cup. She played every minute of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, taking home a silver medal after an overtime loss to Norway in the championship game. In her last world event, she was an alternate on the Gold Medal winning Olympic team in 2004 and then retired in 2005 with 120 international appearances.
She played for the Philadelphia Charge in the WUSA (2001 - 2003), Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon, France (2004 - 2005), and Chelsea FC in the UK (2008 - 2009).
Lorrie, Ronnie and their older brother, Greg all got their start and played for many years in AYSO Region 43.
She most recently played for Chelsea
Chelsea L.F.C.
Chelsea Ladies Football Club are a semi-professional English women's football club affiliated with Chelsea F.C.. They have competed in the top tier of women's football in England, the Premier League National Division, since 2005...
in the FA Women's Premier League
FA Women's Premier League National Division
The FA Women's Premier League National Division is the second level of the English women's football league pyramid. From 1991 until the introduction of the summer competition FA Women's Super League the National Division functioned as the top league in England. Below it are simultaneously the...
. On February 1, 2008, it was announced that Fair had signed for Chelsea Ladies
Chelsea L.F.C.
Chelsea Ladies Football Club are a semi-professional English women's football club affiliated with Chelsea F.C.. They have competed in the top tier of women's football in England, the Premier League National Division, since 2005...
as a player, for whom she had been working solely as an ambassador up to that point. Fair vowed to continue her work with the club at grass roots level. The move was significant as she became the first American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
international to sign for a club in the Women's Premier League
FA Women's Premier League National Division
The FA Women's Premier League National Division is the second level of the English women's football league pyramid. From 1991 until the introduction of the summer competition FA Women's Super League the National Division functioned as the top league in England. Below it are simultaneously the...
. Fair suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury in May 2008, which ruled her out of the following season.
Her work in the sport for development field has been ongoing since the age of 16. She is an athlete ambassador for Right To Play and Show Racism the Red Card. She also serves in the Sport Envoy Program run by the US State Department in conjunction with the US Soccer Federation, going on envoys abroad to promote healthy lifestyles, and sport for diplomacy.
Since 2008, Fair has worked with several projects, such as Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron is a South African actress, film producer and former fashion model.She rose to fame in the late 1990s following her roles in 2 Days in the Valley, Mighty Joe Young, The Devil's Advocate and The Cider House Rules...
's Africa Outreach Project and her own Kickabout Africa 2010 project, to promote development efforts in Africa.