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U.S. Women’s soccer star Hope Solo will attend the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, despite her concerns about the Zika virus. The goalkeeper said she would “begrudgingly”

participate in the Games in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday. Solo has said previously that she would consider not going to the Games due to the risks associated with the virus, which

include birth defects and temporary paralysis. “I strongly believe that no athlete should be put into this position – to decide between your Olympic dreams and your own health,” Solo said.

For Solo and the entire U.S. women’s soccer team, this year’s Olympic dreams are bigger than ever. With last year’s world cup title and three straight Olympic gold medal wins, the team is

poised to set a new standard. Solo, who was the starting goalkeeper in the last two Games, said this was a major factor in her decision to attend the Games. “It’s never been done where we’ve

won the World Cup and backed it with an Olympic championship,” she said. “I’m always a competitor first and I want to set a new standard.” RELATED: HOPE SOLO’S OFF-FIELD GUILTY PLEASURES

Solo added that she would take “extra precautions” to avoid the mosquito-borne virus. “I’m not sure I’m even going to be leaving the hotel room, outside of practice,” she said. For months,

health officials across the globe have advised women who are pregnant or hope to become pregnant to avoid traveling to countries that are experiencing Zika outbreaks. In February, IOC

Chairman Alex Thomas Bach said that he had “full confidence” in Brazil’s planned measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Not everyone is so confident. In an Instagram post on Sunday,

Brazilian soccer star Rivaldo urged potential Olympic visitors to avoid travel to Brazil, citing the country’s social and political instability. “Things are getting uglier here every day,”

the 44-year-old wrote as the caption to a photo of a 17-year-old woman who was shot and killed in Rio. “I advise everyone with plans to visit Brazil for the Olympics in Rio to stay in their

country of origin.” “Your life will be in danger here,” he continued. “This is without even speaking about the state of public hospitals and all the Brazilian political mess. Only God can

change the situation in our Brazil.”