ABC/Rick RowellHope Solo has faced plenty of pressure on the pitch, but "Dancing With the Stars" is a whole new ballgame for the star goalkeeper.Hope Solo is no stranger to big moments.
When Team USA made its run to the championship game in the 2011 Women's World Cup, Solo was tasked with stopping every shot on goal -- no doubt, the most nerve-racking challenge she has ever faced.
Her next venture may cause just as much nail-biting.
Tonight, Solo will trade soccer cleats for dancing shoes when she makes her debut on Season 13 of "Dancing With the Stars," in front of millions of TV viewers.
Luckily, she won't have to have go Solo on the dance floor. She'll be guided by partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy. And Solo should also be comforted by the fact that athletes have fared well on the show: Sports figures have won six of the previous 12 titles.
We asked former contestants for advice they'd give on how to smoothly transition from all-star to belle of the ball.
Natalie Coughlin, Olympic swimmer
Season 9: Eliminated sixth
ABC/Adam LarkeyNatalie Coughlin and her partner Alec MazoMost challenging style of dance: The times my partner and I had the most tension were during the quickstep and the foxtrot. The body position in ballroom -- being bent over and turning your head -- was so awkward for me. That arch you need in your back was so difficult. My partner blamed me for his gray hairs during those weeks.
The one thing I wish I'd known before the show started: I wish I'd really understood the show. It's 50 percent viewers, 50 percent judges. I took it too seriously. I didn't show the audience how much fun my partner and I had. Though it's a competition, you need to be entertaining.
Biggest piece of advice: My biggest piece of advice for her is to take what has made her good in soccer -- her drive, intensity and work ethic -- and use that on the dance floor. Also, keep in mind it's a TV show. Working hard in practice makes for boring television. Have fun out there. Know when to work and know when to be a goofball and joke around. I loved "Dancing With the Stars." I had such a wonderful time. I hope she has half as much fun as I did.
Most challenging aspect of the show: The reality TV side of it. I would get so stubborn with some of the processes. If my partner and I were having a discussion, and the producers missed it or didn't have the right angle, they'd want you to re-enact the moment. There was one week where they made it seem like we were having a fight when we really weren't. That's what editing can do. I just wanted to dance and perform, but there is so much more that goes into it. It comes with the territory. But I guarantee that of all the reality shows out there, "Dancing With the Stars" is the most honest. It was one of the best experiences of my life, and I would do it again.
Most exciting part: Just meeting people that you would never run into. On my season, I met Tom DeLay and had conversations with him about politics. I also got to hang out with Kelly Osbourne. You meet all these people from different walks of life and you make a lot of friendships.
Burning a lot of calories on the show means: It's physically demanding, but not nearly as physically demanding as swimming and soccer. Her job is to work out, so she will be fine.
Additional advice: It's fun, and it doesn't last very long. Enjoy the entire process. When I got voted off, I was seriously depressed for three or four days. It wasn't a competitive thing. It was just that it was over. I had post-traumatic-being-eliminated-from-dancing disorder. You get to be competitive in something so different than anything you've ever known.
