While the United States gained a lot of attention (and medals) from this year’s Olympics in Rio, Brazil, not all of it was positive. From soccer to swimming, it was surely an affair to remember.
In what was perhaps one of the most shocking events of the summer, the U.S. women’s national soccer team was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Olympics women’s soccer tournament by Sweden. Hope Solo, starting goalkeeper for the U.S.W.N.T., was understandably upset over the loss after being favorites to win their fifth gold medal in the event. However, she expressed her disappointment through harsh comments aimed toward the Swedish national team, accusing them of being “a bunch of cowards” for playing a defensive game, and then went on to say that the best team had not won.
The federation did not take kindly to her comments, which painted not only her but the entire U.S.W.N.T., in a bad light. In response, Solo was suspended by U.S. Soccer for six months, and her contract was terminated by the federation.
In unrelated news, Ryan Lochte has recently come under fire for over-exaggerating the tale of his “robbery” during the 2016 Olympics. He was charged by Brazilian authorities with multiple incidents, one of which is making a false police report, and is expected to give a testimony in the near future. In the meantime, he is now scheduled to appear on season 23 of “Dancing With the Stars.”
It is interesting to note the disparities between these two separate incidents. After losing in the quarterfinal of the Rio Olympics, Solo made some inappropriate comments toward the opposing team that, if anything, displayed her unsportsmanlike conduct. As a result, she has been suspended, terminated, and otherwise pushed out of the world of U.S. soccer for the upcoming year.
Lochte, after fabricating a robbery incident in a country already fraught with political and social turmoil, is now headed to take part in a reality competitive television show. Is it wrong to say that the difference in these two scenarios is worrying?
Solo says something wrong at the wrong time and is effectively prevented from possibly ever competing for the U.S. national team again. The president of U.S. Soccer, Sunil Gulati, stated in his speech announcing her punishment that her suspension and termination was made effective through a lack of conduction in a “manner befitting a U.S. National Team member.” If this is the case with Solo’s punishment, then, why is Lochte presumably exempt from American disdain for actively lying and fabricating and entire story? Aren’t Lochte’s actions as equally unbefitting of a U.S. athlete?
It is shown time and time again that athletes are commonly given special treatment when they commit crimes. However, why does this preferential treatment apply to Lochte and not Solo? Solo’s actions, while decidedly lacking in both class and taste, did not warrant termination of her contract, and yet she is now suspended from the U.S.W.N.T. Lochte’s actions, however, were obviously unbefitting of a U.S. athlete, and yet his career is not on the line.
Defenders of Lochte might state that he has lost sponsorships and that he is facing legal action from the Brazilian government, but new sponsorships will be made and legal action will be swept under the rug, and one of America’s golden boys will still ultimately be heralded as a pioneer of swimming. Lochte will certainly be joked about for years to come, but Solo’s punishment will never leave her; she will never be able to get out of the shadow of her past.
Is this disparity between Solo’s and Lochte’s punishment a gender-related issue? Or Is it something that concerns only the soccer federation? Everybody has their own opinions, and I have certainly made mine clear. Nevertheless, the only thing that is sure is that steps need to be taken to hand out proper punishments where they are due.
