Playing sport is meant to have fun, learn how to be a team player and develop skills you might not otherwise have.
Olympic Athlete’s are or should have a different sense of professionalism regarding comments made, before, during or possibly after any event, local, national or even on the Olympic stage.
For most this is an understanding, but apparently for the US Women’s Olympic goalkeeper Hope Solo it’s about her not being able to except a loss on the world stage.
The National US Women’s Soccer team (three-time defending champion) loss to team Sweden by a 4-3 score on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw in a quarterfinal match in the games.
Solo (35) called the Swedes “a bunch of cowards” in a match where they played stronger defense rather than playing on the attack.
It should be known that Solo had previously been suspended for 30 days in the early part of 2015 for her conduct and with this suspension she will not be eligible for selection to the National team until February 2017, but we know they will have her back on the squad.
Solo stated on her Facebook page that she was saddened by the decision made by US Soccer, but do we really think she will change?
When in Rio she irked the fans in Brazil when she posted a photo on social media of herself covered with a mosquito netting and armed with the best mosquito repellent candles, and the fans took exception in numbers.
Unlike a Whitecaps match and comments the fans in Rio shouted “Zika”, which means coward each time she touched or kicked the ball.
Regardless of her success and even last month becoming the first goalkeeper with 100 international shutouts following a 1-0 win over South Africa in Chicago at Soldier Field.
Pia Sundhage Sweden’s National Coach who was at the leading edge for the U.S. team’s Gold in Beijing and London, replied by stating “It’s OK to be a coward if you win.”
She was among the “growing number” of U.S. players to file a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for wage discrimination, stating that “The Men’s national team players have been paid much more than many on the Women’s team.
At one point she even called for better overall conditions for players in the National Women’s Soccer League.
She try’s to avoid trial on misdemeanor domestic violence charges following a 2014 incident at her sister’s home when she was accused of being intoxicated and assaulting her sister and 17-year-old nephew.
Turning it around she stated “she was a victim in the altercation” and earlier this year, an appeals court in Washington state rejected Solo’s request to avoid trial.
The ongoing saga continues of “How to lose and be a Professional” or showing “Today’s youth it’s OK to lose and maintain dignity!!”
