Hope Solo looks on during the Women’s Group G first round match between the United States and New Zealand during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Mineirao Stadium on August 3, 2016.
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The U.S. women’s national team comfortably beat New Zealand 2-0 in their Olympic opener on Wednesday, but it wasn’t a cozy evening for goalkeeper Hope Solo.
Hope Solo’s Twitter drama followed her to the soccer field. Instead, she was booed like Hillary Clinton at a Trump rally every time she touched the ball.
A number of athletes cancelled their participation in the Rio Games for fear of contracting the mosquito-borne virus.
As you may know the Zika virus in Brazil has been a hot topic, nearly even overshadowing the hype around the Olympics itself.
Still, the professional soccer star didn’t seem phased by the crowd reaction, telling NBC Sports after the game, “It’s the Brazilians – they love soccer, they love football”.
“I’m glad the fans had fun”, Solo said following the game.
Fans will have until Saturday afternoon (when the USWNT plays France) to come up with something new.
Brazil says the arrival of winter has greatly reduced the threat, a thought also expressed previously by Syracuse University basketball coach Jim Boeheim, who is an assistant for Team USA basketball. It can also lead to the rare neurological disorder, Guillain-Barre syndrome, according to the World Health Organisation. Among them were several tweets showcasing her protective gear and supplies she was bringing along to the Summer Games. “Get your own! #zikaproof #RoadToRio“.
Solo, 35, said she did not notice the chants of “Zika!”.
Lloyd only returned to action last month after a right knee sprain sustained playing for the National Women’s Soccer League’s Houston Dash in April, while Megan Rapinoe made the squad yet has not played a game since tearing the ACL in her right knee last December. As The Washington Post reports, Solo said she was “begrudgingly” attending the ceremonies this year due to concerns about the virus. She said the media was being “really tough on people of Brazil”.
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However, this very well could make Solo play better. Many were wondering, “why are they booing Hope Solo?”
