Hope Solo Suspended from US Women's Soccer After 2016 Rio Olympics Comment

Hope Solo was a breakout star for women's soccer when she first debuted, but now it's women soccer who is breaking up with the star athlete. Solo competed with the women's team during the 2016 Rio Olympics earlier this month, and the US Soccer organization revealed that they were less than happy with comments she made regarding the US loss to Sweden in the quarterfinals. So much so that they decided to suspend her as well as terminate her contract.

According to Us Weekly, the professional goalie was given a sixth month suspension after she referred to the Swedish team as "a bunch of cowards," after team USA were beaten by them in penalty kicks on August 12th.

Solo took to Twitter to express her sadness over the decision of the Federation earlier this week.

"For 17 years, I dedicated my life to the U.S. Women's National Team and did the job of a pro athlete the only way I knew how - with passion, tenacity, an unrelenting commitment to be the best goalkeeper in the world, not just for my country, but to elevate the sport for the next generation of female athletes," the 35-year-old athlete wrote. "In those commitments, I have never wavered. And with so much more to give, I am saddened by the Federation's decision to terminate my contract."

pic.twitter.com/z4lCvGnQDq

— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) August 25, 2016

However, it isn't only Solo that finds fault with the decision, it was also Rich Nichols, the general counsel for the player's association of the women's national team, who spoke to the New York Times and called the decision, "excessive, unprecedented, disproportionate and a violation of Ms. Solo's First Amendment rights."

Nichols also admits that if the same thing were to happen with a male athlete, the consequences wouldn't be as servere.

Hope has lead the US to two gold medals at the Olympic games, as well as winning them three World Cups. The suspension will end in February of 2017, at which time she can continue to play.