Hope Solo: USA Goalkeeper Ready for Another Star Turn at 2012 Summer Olympics

Hope Solo has danced with stars, bared all for the world to see and dished the dirt about her "Olympics secret."

She's a crossover celebrity who's equally comfortable on the pitch and in the pop-culture spotlight.

She's a gold medalist with a high-profile book deal.

She's got attitude and sex appeal.

She's a sporting heroine for millions of American girls, and at the young age of 30, she's one of the brightest global stars in her sport.

Just imagine what Hope Solo will be after the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Solo first came to the attention of casual American sports fans in 2007 for her controversial comments about United States coach Greg Ryan's decision to start Brianna Scurry in goal against Brazil in the World Cup semifinals (USA Today).

The US lost the match, and Solo—in a bold move that foreshadowed her future fame—criticized Ryan openly. That earned Solo the scorn of her teammates and left her international career in jeopardy.

A year later Solo was back with the team and backing up her words with a sterling performance in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Solo's personal redemption story reached a dramatic climax with a shutout of Brazil in the gold medal match.

That's when things became interesting—as if they weren't already.

After a runner-up finish with Team USA at the 2011 World Cup, Solo competed on Dancing With the Stars, an American TV show. She reached the semifinals before being eliminated.

That same year, Solo also posed nude for ESPN The Magazine's annual body issue.

That wasn't all. With her crossover fame secure, Solo showed an even more adventurous side in an explosive interview with ESPN The Magazine.

In the article, Solo revealed that the American players partied with actor Vince Vaughn following the Olympics. She also dished the dirt on herself.

Here are some of the choice comments:

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"I may have snuck a celebrity back to my room without anybody knowing, and snuck him back out. But that's my Olympic secret." The best part, according to Solo? "When we were done partying, we got out of our nice dresses, got back into our stadium coats and, at 7 a.m. with no sleep, went on the Today show drunk. Needless to say, we looked like hell."

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This summer, the headlines have continued. Solo failed a pre-Olympics drug test but was later cleared (per USA Today). After the Olympics, she's scheduled to publish an autobiography that promises to include "pointed criticisms of teammates" (via Smithsonian Magazine).

In other words, Solo has compiled a file full of steamy secrets, controversial comments, international glory and gold medals. It's a resume that's equal parts tabloid fodder and can't-miss headline news.

Put bluntly, she's the most interesting player on the US women's team, and she's one of the biggest stars in women's soccer.

Whether Solo leads Team USA to glory again this summer, her legacy as a dual-threat star is secure. Another gold medal could vault her to bona fide superstardom.

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