The 35-year-old U.S. women's soccer team goalkeeper responds to backlash over her social media posts.
Hope Solo isn't backing down from her controversial tweets about the Zika virus, but she is offering an explanation.
Solo's recent social media posts resulted in the 35-year-old U.S. women's soccer team goalkeeper getting heckled and booed during the team's Summer Olympics game opener in Brazil on Wednesday.
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In response to the backlash, Solo revealed that she didn't hear specifically that soccer fans jeered 'zika' over and over inside Mineirão Stadium.
"I did know they were booing, but it doesn't affect me," Solo told Sports Illustrated on Thursday. "I came here to do one thing, and that's to help our team win, our country win. And I'm very focused in doing that."
The virus, which is primarily spread by mosquitoes, can cause birth defects if contracted by pregnant women. Solo said that she wants to "start a family" one day and thus had concerns about traveling to Brazil. However, Solo maintains that she did her research first.
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"I wish people understood that I did my due diligence before coming to Brazil," she said. "It was a decision that I had to make alongside my husband. It’s not something I just spoke about without getting educated on, it was something very serious because I do want to start a family."
Solo noted that the CDC and the World Health Organization warned pregnant women, or those who have an "intent to get pregnant anytime soon," to not travel to Brazil.
"It's not like I just made this up," added Solo. "I listened to the CDC. I listened to the World Health Organization. I spoke to experts."
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