Hope Solo And Ryan Lochte: Equal Punishment For Equal Mistakes? | The Odyssey Online
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Hope Solo And Ryan Lochte: Equal Punishment For Equal Mistakes?

Two scandals with two very different outcomes.

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Hope Solo And Ryan Lochte: Equal Punishment For Equal Mistakes?
USAToday/NYMagazine

I'm sure everyone has heard about the Ryan Lochte scandal that happened in Rio a few weeks ago. If you've been even slightly tapped into the media you would know that Lochte and a few other swimmers on the team, Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and James Feigen, reported that they had been the victims of armed robbery at a Rio gas station after a night of celebrating. Come to find out that was not the case, Lochte and his buddies vandalized the gas station and security guards confronted them, asked them to pay for the damages and pulled their weapons. Lochte lied. Sure, you've heard it before.

But another similar story that has flown a little under the radar is the issue with Hope Solo at the Rio olympics. After losing to Sweden in the Olympic quarterfinals, Solo called the Sweden team "a bunch of cowards." Typically flinging insults is not how athletes use their post-game time, so it was well noticed by many.

In a lot of ways these incidents are similar, unsportsmanlike actions taking place after a sporting event. Both said some things they shouldn't have said. But the outcomes of the two situations couldn't be more different. For her actions Solo received a six-month suspension from the U.S. women's soccer team and her contract with the national team was terminated.

Now, your next question will probably be: How was Lochte punished?

The answer: He pretty much wasn't.

There has been no punishment in terms of his sport whatsoever. Sure, some big companies pulled their endorsements, but that isn't really punishment, more like cause and effect. As a matter of fact, one company newly signed him for endorsement after the scandal happened, perhaps because of the potential attention from the media.

But why was Solo so quickly punished and Lochte yet to be? The two incidents happened just days within each other. Some sources claim the Olympic committee is on the verge of processing Lochte's situation and others claim he will be taking part in season 23 of Dancing with the Stars, so who knows what will happen.

The two incidents, however, create a sort of double standard within the world of sports, where women are punished for any wrongdoing and men are allowed to make mistakes with a "boys will be boys" approach. I say it's time for men to take accountability for they actions, not only in sports, but in general.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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