Olympic athletes often don't get paid to do anything other than look good. In that vein, Attractive Olympians handicaps which athletes may rake in endorsement deals after the Olympics.Hope Solo has been on the U.S. Women's National Team since 2000 and went to the 2004 Athens Olympics as an alternate on the gold-medal winning team, but she is probably best known for her controversial statements during the Women's World Cup in China last year. Going into the semifinals against Brazil, Solo had recorded three consecutive shutouts and was becoming a breakout star on the team. That's when coach Greg Ryan benched her for 36-year-old Briana Scurry. The U.S. lost 4-0, snapping a 51-game unbeaten streak, and an angry Solo stated that starting Scurry was the "wrong decision" after the game. (Ryan's contract was not renewed.)
Back in the starting spot after a lengthy fallout, Solo will return to China this summer as the American women try for a return to the gold medal podium. The 26-year-old goalie from Washington once recorded 1,054 straight minutes without a goal allowed for the national team, and she's clearly the best female goalkeeper in the country -- and maybe the world.
Oh, and she's kinda hot, too. How hot? You decide. After the jump, peruse more photos, analyze data, and vote in FanHouse's Attractive Olympian poll.
Breaking Down the Basics
| Age | 26 |
| Height | 5'9" |
| Hair | Blonde |
| Eyes |
Blue |
| Limbs |
Long |
| Reflexes | Cat-like, if cats stopped soccer balls |
| Middle name | Amelia |
| Good news |
She's the only girl on the team allowed to use her hands |
| Bad news | You're not likely to score |
| Delightfully bogus name etymology | Part Obama speech, part Star Wars hero |
Presentation of Medals
*When judging, assume that Gold suggests a future a of GoDaddy.com-level of endorsements, and Bronze points toward appearances in local circulars.
Attractive Olympians
Nastia Liukin Two-time world champion gymnast is a six-time world medalist and a four-time U.S. National Champion.
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Jennie Finch: Pitched the USA to gold in 2004. She and her teammates have many fans, none more so than Terrell Owens of the Dallas Cowboys.
Mark Davis/Getty Images
Becky Hammon: The WNBA star from South Dakota will play for the Russian women's basketball team in August.
Jennifer Pottheiser, NBAE / Getty Images
Luciana Aymar Named International Hockey Federation's World Player of the Year four times ('01, '04-'05, '07), helping Argentina to a bronze and silver in the last two Olympics.
ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP/Getty Images
Leisel Jones Won silver in the 100-meter breaststroke in her home country of Australia in 2000, and earned bronze and silver in the 100m and 200m, respectively, in Athens.
Paul Broben/Getty Images
Yan Zi: Tennis player from China ranks 13th in the world on the WTA tour, and partnered with Zheng Jie to win the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2006.
Michael Steele/Getty Images
Sally McLellan: Australian Hurdler and Sprinter was a semifinalist in both the 100m and 100-meter hurdles at the 2007 Worlds.
Mark Dadswell/Getty Images
Kim Gevaert: Belgian record holder in the 60m, 100m, 200m and 400m races and won a relay bronze at the 2007 Worlds.
MICHEL KRAKOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
Adam van Koeverden: Canadian canoe-kayak racer won gold in the 500m and bronze in the 100m the the Athens games in 2004.
Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images
Maria Sharapova: This will be the first Olympics for the Russian tennis star, who has won three Grand Slam titles.
Brad Barket/Getty Images for IMG
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-23-2008 @ 9:45PM
Jeremy said...
Hope Solo is about as hot as Brianna Scurry.
Reply
6-25-2008 @ 9:09PM
Shannon L. said...
Hope Solo is the best goalkeeper for the U.S. Better i think, than Briana Scurry.
And she's pretty much gorgeous.
Reply
7-13-2008 @ 10:59AM
Rick W said...
Hope Solo was right on with her uniqueness. The bunch of "sorority girls" who ostracized her from practice and games need some growing up to do. Yes women are different, but you don't isolate a "team member" and perpetuate a hostile environment.
Hope is a world class keeper with looks to match. To the rest of her team mates. Shut up and play!!!
Reply