Hope Amelia Solo is the full name of a former American soccer goalkeeper who played for the United States women’s national team from 2000 to 2016.
Hope Solo competed professionally for the Philadelphia Charge in the women’s United Soccer Association after playing college soccer for the University of Washington (WUSA). From 2009 to 2011, she also played for the Saint Louis Athletica, magicJack, and Atlanta Beat.
Here are some of her inspiring quotes.
“When the Olympics and World Cups come around, that’s when you see the real outpouring of support that there really is for female football.”― Hope
“London 2012 is all about winning a medal. Not just any medal, the gold medal.”― Hope
“Athletes are extremists. When they’re training, it’s laser focus.”― Hope
“I think the concept of seeking fame and fortune in women’s football in the States is a bit idyllic. Look at all the teams in America that have folded, and the leagues.”― Hope
“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.”― Hope
“I never felt the same passion for the game in the States and there were a lot of headaches, a lot of obstacles to overcome – it didn’t just run itself for the love of the game because soccer is not the No. 1 sport as it is in Europe.”― Hope
“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.”― Hope
“I hate the cliche of ‘just have fun,’ but what I’ve seen in today’s sports, especially with parents, is they put so much pressure on the kids.”― Hope Solo
“My father showed me so much love. He showed my brother so much love.”― Hope
“A lot of people think I’m naturally confident. I am not naturally confident!”― Hope
“I’ve always been a fan of Justin Timberlake.”― Hope Solo
“I think the concept of seeking fame and fortune in women’s football in the States is a bit idyllic.”― Hope Solo
“My life goes in four-year cycles. The World Cup is every four years and the Olympics are every four years.”― Hope Solo
“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.”― Hope
“L.A. is a bit strange. It doesn’t seem like the real world.”― Hope
“Of course Seattle loves soccer. You can see from the men’s Seattle Sounders team.”― Hope Solo
“I have a lot of critics; we all know that.”― Hope
“I travel a lot and rarely make it home to Seattle.”― Hope Solo
“I carry my iPod everywhere. My favorite group is the John Butler Trio, an Australian jam band. The lead singer and guitarist writes amazing lyrics.”― Hope Solo
“I wear my dad’s cross. It’s very important to me. I hang it in my locker before each game.”― Hope Solo
“In truth, 2007 was the hardest year of my life. I lost my best friend. I lost my father.”― Hope Solo
“I am proud of who I am, and nobody’s going to steal that.”― Hope Solo
“Female athletes are supposed to be toned down. You’re always supposed to talk about the team and never stand out.”― Hope Solo
“I think people who don’t have conflict in their lives are just trying to please people and not really living life to the fullest.”― Hope Solo
“I am pushed by my critics. I don’t want to say I want to prove them wrong, but it pushes me on the field to play with a chip on my shoulder, and I play best when I have a chip on my shoulder.”― Hope Solo
“I have no personal beef with Brandi Chastain. There’s nothing personal.”― Hope Solo
“On a global stage, I have respect in the goalkeeping world.”― Hope Solo
“When I did ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ everyone in Hollywood was saying I had too much muscle.”― Hope Solo
“Growing up, I felt insecure about my build. I didn’t feel very feminine. But as time went on, I learned to completely embrace my body.”― Hope Solo
“When I was younger, I was a complete tomboy. Then in college I started emerging out of the tomboy stage and dressing differently.”― Hope Solo
“I’m a nerd at heart.”― Hope Solo
“You know journalists. You know the media. They are going to hang on to anything negative they possibly can.”― Hope Solo
“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.”― Hope
“Everybody should be affected by their own realities in their own lives, their own struggles in their own lives. It makes us who we are, and we all know that.”― Hope Solo
“I don’t just want to focus on soccer, soccer, soccer. You’re going to look back 20 years from now and of course you’re going to remember the games. But I’m going to remember seeing my family in the stands.”― Hope Solo
“I’m just going to embrace every experience.”― Hope
“I never go on Facebook! I like, haven’t confirmed anybody to be my friend on Facebook. I have lots of friends; I’m just really bad at Facebook.”― Hope Solo
“I usually tell people I watch like ’24’ and ‘Prison Break.’”― Hope
“I think every athlete has their window of opportunity, and you just have to jump on it. You never know when it can end. So I’m just trying to live large while I have the opportunity.”― Hope Solo
“I think at an early age I learned not to judge people.”― Hope
“I just want to stay in my hotel room, read my book. I enjoy that private time.”― Hope
“You’re not going to be liked by everybody when you speak the truth. I don’t speak the truth to put people down; I don’t speak the truth to show disrespect.”― Hope Solo
“I like to read books and be alone; I’m not social butterfly person.”― Hope
“I’ve learned that winning isn’t everything, and it’s more about the journey. But at the end of the day, I just want to stand on the podium with the gold medal.”― Hope Solo
“I’ve been through a lot of things in my personal and family life. That turned me into a fighter. I always strive to be the best I possibly can.”― Hope Solo
“All my life, since the time I was little, has been a long distraction. At least that is the way some people want to perceive it, but for me, it’s given me a lot of strength.”― Hope Solo
“I live for competition. It makes my life complete.”― Hope
“I don’t need a captain’s band to lead a team to victory.”― Hope
“I try to live my life one day at a time, and if I look too far in advance, I get really stressed.”― Hope
“I don’t just want to focus on soccer, soccer, soccer.”― Hope
“No one wants to lose, period. It should hurt, it should sting, and you don’t want to feel that feeling again.”― Hope
“I think it’s my personality to overcome things, learn from them and become stronger, both personally and professionally.”― Hope
“My personal life is in the spotlight, but people say what they want to say. The truth isn’t in the spotlight, I should say. I’m in the spotlight, but not the truth.”― Hope
“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.”― Hope
“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.”― Hope
“I take everything with a grain of salt.”― Hope
“My life is a beautiful struggle.”― Hope
“You’re always going to survive the pain of loss. I can live with that confidence inside of me.”― Hope Solo
“There are so many different walks of life, so many different personalities in the world. And no longer do you have to be a chameleon and try and adapt to that environment – you can truly be yourself.”― Hope Solo
“One thing I’ve learned through all the ups and downs is that if you’re doing things right, then you have a core group of people. Not just a core group like your homies or your buddies, but a group of people that has a good influence on you, who you respect and admire, and you know that if they’re on your side, you’re doing something right.”― Hope
“I think it’s my personality to overcome things, learn from them, and become stronger, both personally and professionally. To be honest, I welcome those hardships.”― Hope
“My confidence comes from the daily grind – training my butt off day in and day out.”― Hope
“I have an attitude. It’s what I do. I’m edgy. I have an attitude.”― Hope
“I couldn’t have been a great goalkeeper without power, agility, and quickness.”― Hope
“I like to read books and be alone; I’m not social butterfly person. I’m sorry.”― Hope
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