Hope Solo: Off-the-Field Distractions Won't Deter USA Star from Excellence

Hope Solo is no stranger to controversy.

The soccer star burst into the limelight in 2007 during the Women's World Cup. At first, it was for good reasons—she helped get the United States into the semifinal round with fantastic goaltending, allowing just two goals in four matches and was working on 300-plus minutes of shutout football.

Then, head coach Greg Ryan made a mistake.

Briana Scurry, Team USA's longtime goalkeeper to that point, was on the down slope of her career, having given way to the talented Solo. Part of her brilliant career had seen her stop the Brazilians time and time again. Coach Ryan thought she could do it one more time in the semifinals, so he made the controversial switch.

The pain of the resulting 4-0 loss was evident for Solo as she lashed out at her coach, throwing Scurry under the bus in the process.

Scandalized, Solo was sent home before the team's third-place matchup, having jeopardized her future with the team.

Eventually the water flowed under the bridge—and, really, how could the national team keep a player as talented as her off the team for long—and Solo bounced back. The talented goalie led the U.S. women's national team to a gold medal run at the 2008 Olympics. The flap lingered well after that, though, still haunting Solo even as the U.S. team prepared for the 2011 World Cup.

And that was not her last run-in with controversy. From Twitter to Dancing with the Stars, Solo has sown more strife than she. The outspoken star may not think she is outspoken, but she certainly acts the part.

Her most recent scandal? Reports surfaced one July morning about a failed mid-June drug test found just before a tuneup match against Sweden.

As it turns out, it was a false positive due to medication. Solo handled the potential disaster well, allowing the facts to come to light without a public display of righteous indignation or impassioned Tweets.

Through all this, Solo has persevered.

She helped lead the U.S. team to Olympic gold in 2008. She was fantastic at the 2011 World Cup despite the team falling short of winning it all. She has made a professional career out of playing the game that she loves through the years despite relatively few opportunities.

Years of dealing with brouhahas have likely steeled the nearly 32-year-old goalie, insulating her from any on-field effects. Truth be told, she has always been a true professional on the field.

Solo will lead her team to glory once more in London.