SEATTLE – Seattle Reign FC and U.S. Women’s National Team goalkeeper Hope Solo said Tuesday she will “begrudgingly” go to the Olympics in Rio despite concerns about the Zika virus.
Solo said in February she might not go to Rio citing concerns that pregnant women who contract the virus can pass it on to their babies, leading to birth defects such as severe brain abnormalities. Solo, who is married to former Washington Husky and Seattle Seahawk Jerramy Stevens, said she "would never take the risk of having an unhealthy child."
But Solo reversed that decision last month.
"I strongly believe that no athlete should be put into this position — to decide between your Olympic dreams and your own health," Solo told CNBC Tuesday. Solo said she’ll be keeping an eye on all the latest studies and may confine herself to her hotel room when not practicing or playing. But she says she is committed to going.
Solo and the USWNT have a chance to do something that no women’s team has ever done – win a World Cup and follow that up with an Olympic gold medal. The U.S. already has done the reverse. They won the gold in London in 2012 then won the World Cup last year in Canada. The U.S. has won the last three Olympic gold medals.
