Hope Solo
Hope Solo
Hope Amelia Solois an American soccer goalkeeper, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a World Cup gold medalist. She has been goalkeeping for the United States women's national soccer team since 2000. After playing at the collegiate level for the University of Washington, she played professionally for the Philadelphia Charge in the Women's United Soccer Association. When the WUSA folded after her first season, she traveled to Europe to play for the top division leagues in Sweden and France. From...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionSoccer Player
Date of Birth30 July 1981
CityRichland, WA
CountryUnited States of America
I don't need a captain's band to lead a team to victory.
I think people have different definitions of team unity. My definition is doing whatever it takes to win, what makes a great team; it's performance on the field, respect on the field.
Of course Seattle loves soccer. You can see from the men's Seattle Sounders team.
It took putting one foot in front of the other every single day to get through it to the point where I made it back on the team and won a gold medal in 2008.
Female athletes are supposed to be toned down. You're always supposed to talk about the team and never stand out.
I played in Europe and it was a great experience, not just because of my team-mates and the coaches we had, but from the fans and the city itself - I played in Gothenburg and I played in Lyon and soccer was everywhere.
In front of the world, all of a sudden I'm a great athlete and I'm put into an environment with 25 other women and I'm expected to go to team meals, team functions.
I put all of my energy into building the game and giving women opportunities and, to put everything into it and then to be deemed selfish or not a good team player or outspoken, it's been hard. But at the same time, I'm going to get the critics and I know that.
My confidence comes from the daily grind - training my butt off day in and day out.
I like to read books and be alone; I'm not social butterfly person. I'm sorry.
I have a lot of critics; we all know that.
I never wanted to go to college in the state of Washington because I was so embarrassed and ashamed of my family life. I wanted to run. That's what always what I do, I run. I run as far away as I can.
L.A. is a bit strange. It doesn't seem like the real world.
I know I can't dance. I am the worst dancer. I have no rhythm. I just do step-and-snap. I love it in the privacy of my own home and every once in a while at a club. But singing and dancing are my two greatest fears.