By David Gold
April 9 – Hope Solo (pictured), the Olympic gold medal winning goalkeeper of the United States women’s football team, has signed a sponsorship deal with Seiko Watches.
Solo becomes another ambassador for Seiko, joining men’s star Landon Donovan, one of the top players the US has produced in recent times and a key figure for the national team, boosting the Tokyo based company’s links with football further.
Seiko also sponsor men’s European and World champions FC Barcelona, who have dominated the club game in recent years.
It is reported that Solo will support Seiko’s Sportura range, their leading sports watch collection, from this autumn, with a launch date for her own special edition watches to be confirmed.
Seiko, the first company to offer a commercially available quartz watch in 1969, were the official timer for six Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, the first at Tokyo in 1964 and the last at Salt Lake City in 2002.
Seiko’s timing systems have also been used in swimming, athletics, speed and alpine skiing.
The 30-year-old Solo plays for Seattle Sounders in the US W-League and has enjoyed a career which has taken her around Europe, including a stint at current European champions French side Olympique Lyonnais.
Solo starred for the US at the last Olympic Games in Beijing, helping them win gold.
She was also named the best goalkeeper at last year’s women’s World Cup (pictured above), although she was unable to prevent her team losing a penalty shoot out in the final against Japan.
An American international for 12 years, Solo boasts 112 caps for her country and has also appeared on US television show Dancing with the Stars, where she was knocked out on the penultimate week of a 10 week competition.
She recently helped the US qualify for London 2012 without conceding a goal and will be a key player for her country as they look to retain their gold medal this summer.
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